It’s In the News, a look at the top stories and headlines from the diabetes community happening now. Top stories this week: a new CGM from Medtronic is approved in Europe, semaglutides for people newly diagnosed type 1 may make a huge difference, a look at Keto diet for kids, Apple teases non-invasive glucose monitoring and Dexcom U is back!
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Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now
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In the news is brought to you by Edgepark simplify your diabetes journey with Edgepark
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Our top this story this week a new CGM from Medtronic gets approval in Europe. It’s called Simplera – an all in one disposable CGM– no fingersticks and no over-tape, which is new for Medtronic. Simplera is integrated with the InPen™ smart insulin pen, which provides real-time, personalized dosing guidance to help simplify diabetes management. Medtronic will begin a phased launch at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 59th Annual Meeting in Hamburg, Germany on Oct. 2-6, 2023.
Simplera™ is indicated for ages 2+ and compatible with iOS and Android. Simplera™ is not approved by the FDA and is limited to investigational use in the U.S. Medtronic's automated insulin delivery (AID) system integrated with this next-generation sensor is currently under review for CE Mark and is not commercially available in the U.S. or in Europe. I’ve reached out to Medtronic – we’ll learn more soon.
https://news.medtronic.com/2023-09-21-Medtronic-Diabetes-announces-CE-Mark-for-new-Simplera-TM-CGM-with-disposable-all-in-one-design
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A small study and a long way to go here, but a weekly dose of semaglutide, helped seven out of 10 patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes stop taking insulin after three to six months. Semaglutide is the key ingredient in Ozempic.. approved for type 2 and Wegovy, approved for weight loss. It’s also thought to tamp down the inflammation that can lead to the destruction of insulin-producing cells.
He noted previous research has shown that patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes still have the ability to make some of their own insulin, so the team tested semaglutide in patients within three months of their diagnosis. All ten patients were taking meal time and long acting insulin. After three months, all of them came off meal time insulin, and seven stopped basal insulin. Much more study needed here.. interestingly. Ozempic’s maker, Novo Nordisk noted it didn't sponsor this study and isn't pursuing trials of semaglutide for type 1 diabetes itself,
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/semaglutide-ozempic-wagovy-type-1-diabetes-insulin-study/
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a widely used diabetes drug that controls blood sugar can also prevent muscle atrophy and muscular fibrosis—which can help the elderly bounce back faster from injury or illness. Researchers from the University of Utah Health have found that Metformin has surprising applications on a cellular level. Their findings were published in the journal Aging Cell.
“We saw two things in our study,” Drummond says. “When participants took Metformin during a bed rest, they had less muscle atrophy. During the recovery period, their muscles also had less fibrosis or excessive collagen. That build-up can make it harder for the muscle to properly function.”
https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-discover-surprising-side-effect-of-common-diabetes-drug/
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Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say they have created a device for people with type 1 diabetes that may help produce insulin when needed.
Their findings were published on September 18 in The Proceeding of the National Academy of Science.
The MIT engineers reported that the small implantable device could carry hundreds of thousands of insulin-producing islet cells. Previous devices made for the same purpose failed and stopped producing insulin because they ran out of oxygen needed to create the insulin.
To combat this, the scientists created an oxygen factory on the device, allowing it to generate oxygen by splitting water vapor in the body.
The researchers said the device could potentially replace insulin injections in people with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Caroline Messer, an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, not involved in the study, explained to Medical News Today:
“Currently, islet cell transplant is limited to patients with a history of severe metabolic complications and consistent failure of insulin-based therapies. Long-term success rates are low, and patients require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy. Conceptually, implantable islet cells that do not require immune suppression and create their own source of oxygen is nothing short of brilliant.”
MIT researchers said the device kept glucose levels stable for at least one month when implanted into mice. The device has not yet been tested in humans.
Researchers hope to create a larger version of the device and test it in people with type 1 diabetes. They expect this device to be about the size of a stick of chewing gum.
“We are eager to see this technology translate, but it does take time,” said Dan Anderson, PhD, the study’s lead author and a professor of chemistry at MIT. “We hope to see this technology in humans within at most four years.”
Although the researchers remained focused on treating diabetes, they indicate this kind of device might be able to be adapted to treat other illnesses that require repeated delivery of therapeutic proteins.
“This technology allows for an improvement in the current approach to implantation of units containing cells that produce insulin in response to blood glucose levels without requiring invasive surgery,” said Dr. Eliud Sifonte, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone Medical Associates, who was not involved in the study.
“Historically, this approach has been difficult to maintain due to an inability to provide a good oxygen supply to those implanted cells,” Dr. Sifonte told MNT.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-a-new-device-may-help-with-insulin-production-for-type-1-diabetes
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Weight Watchers and Abbott announce their new app for people with diabetes. This is a WW app that integrates the use of a Freestyle Libre.
The app helps people with diabetes understand how food and activity impact their glucose levels. WeightWatchers had a team of nutrition and behavioral science experts designed its tailored plan. It aims to help people with type 2 diabetes form helpful habits and meet their health goals.
The plan has demonstrated success in helping people with diabetes lose weight and lower their HbA1c, the company said.
https://www.massdevice.com/abbott-weightwatchers-unveil-connected-diabetes-app/
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Keto and other low carbohydrate diets have gained popularity for type 2 diabetes in adults, but there are safety concerns for young people, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautioned.
Restricting carbohydrates in young people at risk for or with diabetes raises concerns for growth deceleration, nutritional deficiencies, poor bone health, nutritional ketosis, and disordered eating behaviors, Tamara Hannon, MD, of Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, and colleagues on the AAP Committee on Nutrition wrote in a clinical report to guide care.
Based on demonstrated risks, low- and very low-carbohydrate diets were not recommended for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, "except under close diabetes care team supervision utilizing safety guidelines," the group wrote in Pediatricsopens in a new tab or window.
Low-carb (<26% of daily calories), very low-carb (20-50 g per day) and ketogenic (<20 g per day) diets limit foods that can be included compared with the typically recommended diet, where 45% to 65% of the total calories come from carbohydrates.
Rather than cutting all carbs, the policy document urged focusing on reducing children's consumption of nutrient-poor processed snacks and sugary beverages but keeping healthy carbs found in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
However, there was a warning for clinicians in how they approach these conversations.
Hannon's group pointed to a survey conducted with an international social media-based group of adults and parents of young people with type 1 diabetes who chose to use low- or very low-carbohydrate diets as adjunct treatment. "Respondents reported excellent glycemic control but poor relationships with diabetes care providers associated with distrust and feeling judged about their diabetes management decisions," Hannon and colleagues wrote.
The medical team might do the most good when patients and their families elect to follow these diets by not alienating them.
However, they added, "Long-term outcomes of youth following carbohydrate-restricted diets on diabetes and cardiovascular outcomes are needed and may be underreported because of attrition."
For young people with prediabetes or type 1 or 2 diabetes for whom weight loss or maintenance is indicated, pediatricians can counsel them that a reduced energy diet -- irrespective of carbohydrate content -- is most important to that end, the authors noted.
However, any dietary restriction "can be associated with physical, metabolic, and psychological consequences, including risk for disordered eating in children and adolescents, with additional risk for those with diabetes," Hannon and colleagues noted.
As for carbohydrate restriction in young people at risk for or with diabetes, the hope is for more data.
Going forward, "we need longitudinal studies of growth and development in children/families who choose to utilize low-carb diets for the purposes of diabetes management," Hannon told MedPage Today. "We need studies that investigate more longer-term outcomes, including the possible risks and benefits."
https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/generalpediatrics/106386
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DexCom (NASDAQ:DXCM), Tandem Diabetes Care (NASDAQ:TNDM), and Insulet (NASDAQ:PODD) all closed lower Thursday following a report that Apple (AAPL) has named a new head for its project to develop a glucose monitor that doesn't require a skin prick for a blood sample.
Bloomberg reported that VP of Platform Architecture Tim Millet is now heading the project, known as E5. The plan would be to add blood glucose monitor capability to the Apple Watch.
Millet has been with Apple (AAPL) for 19 years.
DexCom fell 3.5%, Tandem (TNDM) was off 4.3%, and Insulet (PODD) lost 1.3%.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/4012056-dexcom-tandem-diabetes-fall-apple-glucose-monitor-new-team-lead
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the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, announced today the launch of the second season of Dexcom U, the first-ever NIL (name, image, likeness) program exclusively for college athletes with diabetes, which had its inaugural season last year.
“I’m elated to come back for my second year and continue to show I can accomplish anything while living with diabetes”
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Dexcom U is a unique NIL program that was created in response to a 2022 survey which found that improving representation for people with diabetes can inspire future generations of athletes living with the condition. With about 17% of student athletes at Division I institutions participating in NIL activities in 20221 and that number expected to grow, Dexcom U is still the only NIL program designed to celebrate college athletes with diabetes and inspire people with diabetes who have athletic dreams of their own.
Throughout the last year, athletes on the Dexcom U inaugural roster participated in 381 collegiate competitions with the help of Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology. The impact of the program is set to expand in 2023 as the roster size grows by 43%.
“In response to last year’s launch, we heard from parents of young children, coaches and athletes with diabetes who felt seen through the stories of Dexcom U athletes,” said Teri Lawver, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer at Dexcom. “We’re thrilled to expand the program in year two and continue celebrating these inspirational collegiate athletes while proving that diabetes does not have to hold you back.”
Dexcom not only understands the pivotal role technology plays in helping athletes with diabetes feel and perform at their best, but also the importance of support from others who understand what it’s like to strive for athletic excellence while managing diabetes. A Dexcom survey showed nearly half (48%) of adults with Type 1 diabetes and parents to children with diabetes believe that being aware of a professional or top amateur athlete or celebrity with Type 1 diabetes would be very beneficial for a newly diagnosed individual,2 which is why mentorship continues to be a cornerstone of the program.
The Dexcom U 2023 roster consists of 20 athletes, including 11 new teammates, all who rely on Dexcom CGM to track their glucose levels* and manage their diabetes:
Amber Jackson, Track & Field, University of Louisville
Ava DeStefon, Cheerleading, Clemson University
Beau Corrales, Football, Texas State University
Bri Carrasquillo, Lacrosse, Yale University
Bryce Frederick, Baseball, Towson University
Cade Brown, Baseball, Murray State University
Caleb Fauria, Football, University of Colorado
Dante Vasquez, Football, Springfield College
Isaac Traudt, Basketball, Creighton University
Jaime Ferrer, Baseball, Florida State University
Jaxon Dowell, Golf, University of Oklahoma
Jessica Walter, Softball, Providence College
Joshua Meriwether, Football, Tennessee State University
Leo Giannoni, Baseball, Columbus State University
Madison Moraja, Track & Field, North Carolina State University
Marlee Fray, Soccer, University of Texas at San Antonio
Nicholas Hahne, Cheerleading, University of Notre Dame
Paris Husic, Track & Field, Wake Forest University
Raegan Lantz, Volleyball, Miami University
Tristan Wakefield, Rowing, Syracuse University
“I’m elated to come back for my second year and continue to show I can accomplish anything while living with diabetes,” said Bri Carrasquillo, Lacrosse player at Yale University and second-year member of Dexcom U. “My Dexcom CGM allows me to play at my highest level, while giving me, my coaches and family peace of mind by tracking my glucose levels through the Follow app.† I feel it’s important to educate others about the tools available that have made such a difference in my diabetes management.”
As part of the program, Dexcom has created educational resources for athletes with diabetes as well as for parents, coaches and teammates so they can better understand the disease and how to support the people with diabetes in their lives. Resources include first-hand advice from Dexcom U athletes as well as tips for managing diabetes, exercise and mental wellbeing – on and off the field.
“It’s a privilege to join such a special group of athletes and shed light on the important mission of Dexcom U,” said Dante Vasquez, football player Springfield College and first-year member of the program. “Not only does being part of Dexcom U give me confidence to perform at my highest levels with my Dexcom G7, but it empowers me to be a mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes with diabetes.”
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230919150027/en/Dexcom-U-Kicks-off-2023-Season-With-Expanded-Roster-of-Athletes-With-Diabetes-Building-on-First-of-its-Kind-NIL-Program
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This week, it’s one thing to push yourself when you live with type 1 diabetes.. we talk a lot about extreme athletes with T1D, but it’s another thing to live with diabetes when others rely on you for their safety. Sarah Janin is an outdoor adventure guide for sports like rock climbing and ice climbing and avalanche education.
Sarah was diagnosed with type 1 as a toddler, in a time before meters, let alone CGMs, and is incredibly honest about her struggles. She’s thriving with diabetes now and she shares what she does to keep herself and her clients safe in the outdoors that she absolutely loves.
More about Sarah here
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
Most of us wouldn’t think twice about using someone else’s emergency glucagon if our child or another adult needed it. But that’s something a school nurse or other health care provider could lose their license over. Now, some states are passing legislation to make it easier for anyone to use any one’s rescue glucagon.
We talk to Georgia State Rep. Doug Stoner and his wife, Trip Stoner, a long-time diabetes advocate who lives with type 1 about what they were able to get passed in their state, what you can do to take action in yours, and what they’re planning next to help people with diabetes.
Read Georgia's glucagon bill here
Contact Doug here: Rep.DougStoner@gmail.com
Moms' Night Out Registration is OPEN
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
It’s In the News, a look at the top stories and headlines from the diabetes community happening now. Top stories this week: Abbott acquires Bigfoot, a new study looks at low-dose aspirin to prevent type 2, researchers look into whether the AI ChatGPT can answer FAQs about diabetes, Beyond Type Run is back for the NYC Marathon, and more!
Our previous episode with Bigfoot Biomedical: https://diabetes-connections.com/?s=bigfoot
Join us for Moms' Night Out! (use promo code School30 to save)
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
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The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now
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In the news is brought to you by Edgepark simplify your diabetes journey with Edgepark
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Our top story this week – Abbott scoops up Bigfoot Biomedical. The deal is expected to close later this year – no financial terms yet disclosed. Abbott and Bigfoot have worked together since 2017 on a connected insulin pen system. Bigfoot Unity exclusively works with Abbott's FreeStyle Libre® Long time listeners will recall that Bigfoot was founded in 2015 around serving people with type 1 diabetes with a closed loop pump system that Byran Mazlish had developed for his wife and son. Mazlish was very secretive at first about the algorithm – this was before people were sure the FDA wouldn’t crack down on them – so a journalist nicknamed him Bigfoot. Along the way, the company pivoted to CGM connected SmartPens. I believe Bigfoot was my third interview, back in 2015 – I’ll ink up all of the interviews I’ve done with them in the show notes.
https://diabetes-connections.com/?s=bigfoot
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbott-to-acquire-bigfoot-biomedical-furthering-efforts-to-develop-personalized-connected-solutions-for-people-with-diabetes-301918254.html
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Low-dose aspirin reduces the risk for type 2 diabetes among older adults and slows the increase in fasting glucose levels over time, new research finds.
The data come from a secondary analysis of ASPREE, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of healthy adults aged 65 years or older, showing that 100 mg of aspirin taken daily for about 5 years did not provide a cardiovascular benefit but did significantly raise the risk for bleeding. It’s a big study, more than 16-thousand people.
This new analysis shows that individuals taking aspirin had a 15% lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes and that the medication slowed the rate of increase in fasting plasma glucose, compared with placebo, during follow-up.
However, lead author Sophia Zoungas, MBBS, PhD, head of the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, says, "Major prescribing guidelines now recommend older adults take daily aspirin only when there is a medical reason to do so, such as after a heart attack… Although these new findings are of interest, they do not change the clinical advice about aspirin use in older people at this time."
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/996058
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A class-action lawsuit filed against Medtronic (NYSE: MDT)+
alleges that the company’s insulin delivery devices shared patient data with third parties.
The lawsuit — filed by the plaintiff “A.H.” in U.S. District Court in Central California — levels allegations against Medtronic and its MiniMed and InPen devices. It addresses MiniMed’s transmission and disclosure of personally identifiable information and protected health information to Google and other third parties.
Per the lawsuit, the data was transmitted via tracking and authentication technology, including Google Analytics, Crashlytics, Firebase Authentication and related tools. A.H. says these technologies, installed on the website and/or mobile applications, include the InPen iOS and Android applications.
“Information about a person’s health is among the most confidential and sensitive information in society, and its mishandling can have serious consequences, including embarrassment, discrimination, and denial of insurance coverage,” the lawsuit reads.
A Medtronic spokesperson issued the following statement via email:
We have strong processes, technologies, and people in place to safeguard and protect our information and systems, the information of our business partners, and most importantly, the privacy and safety of the patients and healthcare providers that use our products.”
https://www.massdevice.com/lawsuit-patient-data-sharing-medtronic-diabetes/
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Interesting new way to look at type 2 – not weight loss or medication, but about reducing how much blood glucose goes up and stays up after eating and drinking. University of Virginia Daniel Cox says this is called Glucose Everyday Matters, or GEM – aims to prevent blood sugar spikes via educated food and drink selection. This is coupled with physical activity to hasten recovery when blood-sugar spikes do occur. So someone might indulge in a piece of fruit or a small, sweet treat, knowing how it will affect them, and then go for an evening stroll to help even out their blood sugar.
Sounds really simple, but in its first study, it helps almost 70-percent of people put their type 2 into remission without weight loss or medication.
The National Institutes of Health has provided $3.5 million for a large-scale clinical trial
Cox himself went from an A1C of 10.3 at the time of diagnoses to reading consistently under 6.0 for the past 13 years on no medication using his approach.
https://newsroom.uvahealth.com/2023/08/31/radical-new-approach-to-managing-type-2-diabetes-receives-3-5-million/
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Final preparations are in place to initiate the first clinical site for DIAGNODE-3 in the United States, and additional sites are expected to be initiated over the coming months. Approximately 10-12 clinical sites across the US are planned to be initiated, expanding the DIAGNODE-3 trial in the US and eight European countries to approximately 60 clincal sites in total. DIAGNODE-3 is designed to confirm the efficacy and safety of the antigen-specific immunotherapy Diamyd® in patients aged 12 to 29 years recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and carrying the genetic HLA DR3-DQ2 marker.
Approximately 40% of all screened patients carry the genetic HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype. This proportion aligns well with expectations based on previous Diamyd® clinical trials and published epidemiological research. Supported by published retrospective analyses and prospective clinical trials, the presence of the genetic HLA DR3-DQ2 haplotype determines the likelihood of responding to Diamyd® therapy, and serves as one of the main inclusion criteria in the DIAGNODE-3 trial.
"Patient recruitment is a complex and central element in any trial and it is encouraging to see a significant and continuous uptick in the screening rate and that the observed frequency of the genetically defined responder group enrolled into DIAGNODE-3 confirms our previous observations", says Ulf Hannelius, President & CEO of Diamyd Medical. "This shows the operational and clinical feasibility of our precision medicine approach to Type 1 Diabetes and we look forward to expanding the trial to the United States".
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/registrational-phase-iii-trial-type-142600082.html
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A low-carbohydrate diet during pregnancy may have some benefits in gestational diabetes, but overall, low-carbohydrate diets are not associated with any significant differences in outcomes. That was the conclusion of a presentation at the ADA Scientific Sessions. That was back in June but I just learned about it, so I’m passing along to you in case you missed it as well.
During a debate at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, Amy M. Valent, DO, MCR, associate professor in the division of maternal-fetal medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, said identifying
Teri L. Hernandez, PhD, RN, associate dean of research and scholarship in the College of Nursing and professor in the department of medicine and the division of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, agreed that the first line of therapy with gestational diabetes is nutrition. However, Hernandez said, low-carbohydrate diets are not the only approach in gestational diabetes treatment with nutrition.
Currently, dietary advice for treating gestational diabetes is inconsistent, and current professional guidelines have limitations and biases, according to Valent. Different diet strategies include low-carbohydrate, low glycemic index and total energy restriction eating plans, according to Valent. Valent said ACOG guidelines recommended a low-carbohydrate diet for gestational diabetes until the most recently revised edition in January.
Valent reviewed several major landmark studies demonstrating that gestational diabetes treatment can decrease pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and large for gestational age infants.
“These studies were in the era where treatment of diabetes in pregnancy involved recommending a low-carbohydrate diet,” Valent said. “The concern with lowering carbohydrates is the risk of consuming lower nutrient-dense foods and resulting in the body to produce ketones, which may be associated with negative effects on the developing baby.”
“Pregnancy is dynamic. Nobody’s the same today as they were yesterday. They’re going to be different 1, 2 or 3 weeks from now, and the nutritional demands and the fetal growth and development stage are going to be different,” Valent said. “So, nutritional demands are going to vary.”
Hernandez also added that women and girls tend to be priced out of good nutritional patterns, which is an issue not only in the pregnancy field, but also in the global community. According to Hernandez, it is important to create ways moving forward to identify what nutritional patterns are best that are also affordable for families, especially in lower-income settings.
https://www.healio.com/news/womens-health-ob-gyn/20230905/experts-debate-benefits-of-lowcarb-diets-for-gestational-diabetes
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Can ChatGPT help answer questions about diabetes?
In a recent study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers tested chatGPT, a language model geared for discussion, to investigate whether it could answer frequently asked diabetes questions.
In the present study, researchers evaluated ChatGPT's expertise in diabetes, especially the capacity to answer commonly requested questions related to diabetes in a similar manner as humans.
The 'Frequently Asked Questions' section of the Diabetes Association of Denmark's website, viewed on 10 January 2023, included eight questions. The researchers designed the remaining questions to correlate to particular lines on the 'Knowledge Center for Diabetes website and a report on physical activity and diabetes mellitus type 1.
Across the 10 questions, the proportion of correct responses ranged from 38% to 74%. Participants correctly identified ChatGPT-generated replies 60% of the time, which was over the non-inferiority threshold. Males and females had 64% and 58% chances of accurately recognizing the artificial intelligence-generated response, respectively. Individuals who had past contact with diabetes patients had a 61% chance of precisely answering the questions, compared to 57% for those who had no prior contact with diabetes patients.
In contrast to the initial premise, participants could discern between ChatGPT-generated and human-written replies better than tossing a fair coin.
While ChatGPT demonstrated some potential for accurately answering frequently asked questions, issues around misinformation and the lack of nuanced, personalized advice were evident. As large language models increasingly intersect with healthcare, rigorous studies are essential to evaluate their safety, efficacy, and ethical considerations in patient care, emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks and continuous oversight.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230905/Can-ChatGPT-be-a-diabetes-consultant-Study-probes-the-potential-and-pitfalls.aspx
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SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 5, diabetes nonprofit Beyond Type 1 will join more than 550 official charity partners and philanthropists raising awareness and funds while participating in the world's largest marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon. This year, the organization is expanding its 50-person team, Beyond Type Run, to include people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, as well as caregivers to those living with diabetes.
"Since 2017, we've featured more than 200 runners on our teams who've exemplified what it means to survive and thrive with diabetes," said Beyond Type 1 CEO Deborah Dugan.
Beyond Type 1 announces the 2023 NYC Marathon team to raise awareness and funds for people living with diabetes
As a part of the Beyond Type Run team, runners will be advocating to raise awareness and funds for Beyond Type 1's portfolio of educational resources, awareness campaigns and peer-to-peer support programs for people impacted by diabetes. This advocacy is elevated through the NYRR Official Charity Partner Program, which offers opportunities for nonprofit organizations to raise funds to support their missions and services.
Dexcom and Tandem Diabetes Care are presenting sponsors of Beyond Type Run for a fourth consecutive year.
The TCS New York City Marathon Official Charity Partner Program has raised more than $440 million for more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations since its establishment in 2006.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/team-of-50-individuals-impacted-by-diabetes-prepare-for-the-2023-tcs-new-york-city-marathon-301909163.html
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MNO update
On the podcast next week.. tandem diabetes celebrity panel from friends for life – Hollywood, the NFL and NASCAR. Last week’s episode was Benny off to college
That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.
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This week, a new project to show an adventurous side of diabetes. a documentary about extreme athletes with type 1. The film makers are interviewing snowboarders, kayakers and professional athletes like Indy Driver Conor Daly and Soccer's Jordan Morris.
Director Dylan Leonard talks to me about why he wanted to make this movie – he lives with type 1 – how they’re going about it and why he thinks – in an age when we can see people with T1D doing all sort of amazing things – like playing in the NFL or serving on the Supreme Court – this type of film is still needed.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
There's another T1D-focused movie fundraising right now as well. Check out "The Cost" here
DOFFLEs (Dads of Friends for Life) info here: https://www.facebook.com/CWDiabetes
Learn more about Moms' Night Out
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
Meet three young adults who are all in the spotlight AND have type 1 diabetes. NFL player Chad Muma, actor Mary Mouser, and professional race car driver Ryan Reed took part in a panel discussion at this summer's Friends for Life conference. The moderator is CNN correspondent Oren Liebermann, who also lives with T1D.
I attended this panel in person and thought it would be fun to bring to a wider audience.
One of the things you don’t hear is a short film about Chad Muma that was shown at the start of the panel.. it’s a great look at how he kept his dream of playing in the NFL going after his diagnosis. You can watch it here:
https://www.tandemdiabetes.com/resources/community/team-tandem/tandem-ambassadors/chad-muma
Note: Mary Mouser, Chad Muma, and Ryan Reed have compensation agreements with Tandem Diabetes Care. Individual experiences may vary.
RX ONLY. The t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology is indicated for patients with type 1 diabetes, 6 years and older. BOXED WARNING: Control-IQ technology should not be used by people under age 6, or who use less than 10 units of insulin/day, or who weigh less than 55 lbs. For full safety information, visit: https://bit.ly/2OKAQsw
Don't miss Moms' Night Out - a new event just for moms of children with diabetes: https://diabetes-connections.com/events/
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It’s In the News, a look at the top stories and headlines from the diabetes community happening now. Top stories this week: Amazon Pharmacy will automatically apply insulin coupons, a new study shows A1Cs are going down for people with T1D who have access to technology, pollution and gestational diabetes study and a wild study that looks at how a parasite might help prevent type 2.
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Transcript:
Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now
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In the news is brought to you by Edgepark simplify your diabetes journey with Edgepark
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Amazon’s online pharmacy will automatically apply manufacturer-sponsored coupons to more than 15 insulin and diabetes medicines to help patients access discounts pledged by the drug industry.
With the new program, patients using Amazon Pharmacy will no longer have to search for and manually enter coupons from the three largest insulin makers, Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), Eli Lilly (LLY.N), and Sanofi (SASY.PA), to lower the cost of their insulin to as little as $35 for a month's supply, the company said.
Novo, Lilly and Sanofi announced in March that they would slash their insulin prices by at least 70% by or in 2024, but many reports some patients were finding it difficult to get already discounted generic insulin from pharmacies at the promised lower price.
Amazon Pharmacy will also automatically apply available discounts to diabetes-related medical devices from manufacturers Dexcom and Insulet, including continuous glucose monitors and pumps, as well as to other cardiometabolic medicines such as Novo's powerful weight-loss drug Wegovy.
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazon-pharmacy-automates-discounts-help-insulin-patients-get-pledged-prices-2023-08-15/
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New study will look at Liver Targeted Insulin (LTI) in Type 1 diabetes.. Directing insulin action to the liver may help restore normal liver physiology for people with Type 1 diabetes, leading to better glucose control and overall health outcomes. Jeremy Pettus and a team of researchers are working to determine the mechanism of action and evaluate the safety profile of the Liver Targeted Insulin
Pettus lives with type 1 and is an endocrinologist who is also the xx at TCOYD.
“Living with Type 1 diabetes is extremely tough,” said Pettus. “One of the major barriers to helping patients with Type 1 diabetes achieve normal glucose levels is that injected insulin simply does not get to the ‘right’ places. Normal insulin has its main effects in the liver, but patients with Type 1 diabetes must inject insulin into the fat tissue. Doing so makes the insulin act very slowly, can lead to weight gain and can cause deadly low blood sugars. This project seeks to attach a molecule to insulin that can help direct it to the liver. In doing so, much of the normal physiology may be restored and patients may get better results.”
Pettus is working with the company Diasome to conduct a single center clinical study with 14 patients with Type 1 diabetes to test the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of the novel LTI.
If this study finds that the LTI is active and preferentially targeting the liver, the findings could spur research and development efforts in the LTI space, leading to additional clinical trials and eventually a novel insulin available that could help improve clinical outcomes.
https://today.ucsd.edu/story/2m-grant-drives-research-on-novel-insulin-in-type-1-diabetes
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Good news about A1c reduction in people with type 1.. but it’s limited for those with access to technology.
The new findings from a study involving patients at the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes Adult Clinic between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2021. They show that as technology use has increased, A1c levels have dropped in parallel. Moreover, progression from use of stand-alone continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to automated insulin delivery systems (AIDs), which comprise insulin pumps and connected CGMs, furthered that progress.
On the flip side, A1c levels rose significantly over the study period among nonusers of technology. "We cannot rule out provider bias for not prescribing diabetes technology among those with higher A1c or from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds," Karakus and colleagues write.
Also of note, even with use of the most advanced AID systems available during the study period, just under half of patients were still not achieving A1c levels below 7%. "The technology helps, but it's not perfect," Shah observed.
This study is the first to examine the relationship of A1c with technology use over time, in contrast to prior cross-sectional studies. "The intention here was to look at the landscape over a decade," Shah said.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/995738
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Can a parasite help with type 2 diabetes? This is kind of gross but very true.. In the first clinical trial of its kind, a team led by scientists from James Cook University in Australia inoculated volunteers with human hookworm larvae (Necator americanus) to see if these parasites can improve their metabolic health. The two-year study included 24 participants, each of whom showed heightened insulin resistance at the start of the trial.
By the end of the investigation, researchers found those who were infected with hookworms showed a significant reduction in their insulin resistance scores compared to those who were given a placebo.
In recent decades, scientists have noticed that in places where parasitic worms are endemic, people report fewer metabolic and inflammatory diseases. I’m sure I don’t have to say this – but more study is needed. No one is recommending you try to get a parasitic infection
https://www.sciencealert.com/radical-trial-shows-hookworms-may-protect-people-from-type-2-diabetes
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/simple-blood-test-may-predict-future-heart-kidney-risk-for-people-with-type-2-diabetes
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Exposure to air pollution early in pregnancy—and even shortly before conception—increases a woman's risk of developing gestational diabetes, according to a new USC study out in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas.
"Interestingly, we found gestational diabetes risk wasn't associated with long-term air pollution exposure but was associated with air pollution in a relatively short but critical periconceptional window, from five weeks before to five weeks after conception," said first author Zhongzheng "Jason" Niu, a postdoctoral fellow in population and public health science at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
The researchers also found the association between air pollution and gestational diabetes was more pronounced among study participants experiencing prenatal depression.
The mechanism connecting ambient air pollution and gestational diabetes remains unclear, researchers say, but an interplay among impaired glucose metabolism, inflammation and hormonal changes could be to blame. Prenatal depression, with disrupted immune and hormonal functions, could make the case worse.
https://news.usc.edu/209509/exposure-to-air-pollution-early-in-pregnancy-increases-risk-of-gestational-diabetes-study-finds/
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Commercial – Edgepark
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A look at Tandem’s bolus by phone feature shows it seems to be helping people with “low bolus frequency” give insulin more. Last year, the t:connect app was updated to allow people with the tslim x2 pump to initiate bolusing from a smart phone or the pump itself. This study looked at those who gave less than three boluses per day prior to the smartphone bolus update – the media number was 2.2. After the smartphone option, that number rose to 2.7.
https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/QYVHSJUZKND8JJAKRUTG/full
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Great story from Diabetes Daily about two brothers with type 1 who are creating a low or almost no sugar beer. This is in Ireland and I don’t know exactly how to explain it quickly..
“Normally, the reason that the beers have sugar in them – which is what will mess with your blood sugar levels – is that there are unfermentable sugars that remain in the beer, sugars that the yeast isn’t able to convert into alcohol. It’s just a byproduct of how you make it. But this enzyme glucoamylase actually breaks down these unfermentable sugars and makes them into fermentable sugars, so the yeast can convert all of the sugar into alcohol, and there will be no sugar left in the beer at all.
Brut beers are usually done in a clean, bitter, highly fizzy IPA style, almost like a beery champagne, but Seán has tried the glucoamylase in other recipes as well.
“Normally it’s only a pale ale or IPA that people put this enzyme into. But I really like German wheat beers. So I decided I’d try and make a wheat beer with this enzyme as well.”
“It did exactly what it was supposed to do. You end up with no sugar at the end, and a really tasty beer. So I’ve been doing it with a few others – a rye, and a Kolsch, and all the sugars completely ferment out.”
“We’ve had some fun in naming them as well. The first one, the IPA style, we call it Insulin, because it keeps the levels down. The wheat that I like to make we have now called Diawheaties.”
And his non-diabetic friends approve:
“Everyone seems to like it. They tend to be quite nice, easy-drinking beers. We wouldn’t make them just for the zero sugar if they were no good. They’re as good as the normal beers.”
https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/how-two-irish-brothers-with-type-1-diabetes-brew-their-own-zero-sugar-beer-689869/
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MNO update
On the podcast next week.. tandem diabetes celebrity panel from friends for life – Hollywood, the NFL and NASCAR. Last week’s episode was Benny off to college
That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.
It's one of the biggest milestones in my family’s experience with diabetes. Our son is off to college! I asked Benny to come on and talk about what’s on his mind, how he’s feeling and to answer your questions, including if he’s going to tell people he has T1D.
We also answer your questions about overnights, how we’ve prepared, our plan for share and follow and much more. I can’t believe this day is here!
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
Our previous episodes with Benny: https://diabetes-connections.com/?s=benny
Don't miss Moms' Night Out - our next stops are in Texas, Rhode Island, & North Carolina
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
This week, figuring out which diabetes devices you want to use is hard enough.. but then you have to navigate insurance. There’s a new effort to streamline the process - a platform called DiabetesWise that’s available – for free - for patients and providers:
Korey Hood is the founder of DiabetesWise and he lives with type 1. We’ve talked about DiabetesWise before – but this insurance option is new. We talk specifics about how it can help, who it’s for and what else Korey has in store for the platform.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
Our previous episode with DiabetesWise: https://diabetes-connections.com/?s=diabeteswise
Learn more about Moms' Night Out!
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com
For adults with type 1, an initial misdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes is unfortunately, all too common. What’s perhaps more unusual is what happened to this week’s guest who was correctly diagnosed by TikTok!
Justin Eastzer talks to me about the community support he found even before he was correctly diagnosed, how it led him to creating his own diabetes videos and content – you may know him better as Diabetech, and how his experience with cancer as a very young adult shaped his life.
This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.
Don't miss Moms' Night Out - a new event for moms of children with diabetes
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!
Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures
Learn more about AG1 from Athletic Greens
Drive research that matters through the T1D Exchange
The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:
Sign up for our newsletter here
Here's where to find us:
Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com
Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com