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Diabetes Connections | Type 1 Diabetes

The T1D news show you've been waiting for! Long-time broadcaster, blogger and diabetes mom Stacey Simms interviews prominent advocates, authors and speakers. Stacey asks hard questions of healthcare companies and tech developers and brings on "everyday' people living with type 1. Great for parents of T1D kids, adults with type 1 and anyone who loves a person with diabetes.
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Now displaying: June, 2022
Jun 28, 2022

This summer we get a behind the scenes look at the evolution of stem cells as a functional cure for type 1. The Human Trial is new documentary that follows the process and the filmmakers are incredibly optimistic about what they’ve seen. Co-director Lisa Hepner lives with type 1. She’s says she’s knows to be careful about “the cure in five years’ kind of statements but is convinced this is the real deal. We’ll talk about the the film, the process, the science and a lot more.

Listen to our first interview with Lisa Hepner from 2016

This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

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Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
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Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

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Jun 24, 2022

It’s “In the News..” got a few minutes? Get caught up! Top stories this week: The US Senate may have a bipartisan plan to lower the price of insulin for the insured, nasal insulin is tested to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's in people with diabetes, two interesting studies about sleep and diabetes, and more!

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

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Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
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Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines of the past seven days.
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In the news is brought to you by T1D Exchange! T1D Exchange is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for the entire T1D population.
https://t1dexchange.org/stacey/
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Two Senators have unveiled legislation aimed at lowering the cost of insulin, but not for the uninsured. This is a bipartisan bill that would lower patietn’s cost to 35-dollars a month, for those with commercial insurance and on Medicare. It would eliminate the rebates drug companies pay to negotiators known as pharmacy benefit managers if the drug company kept the overall price of insulin below a certain level. Democrats are also in the midst of talks on a party-line package on President Biden’s economic agenda that would likely include reductions in insulin costs as well as broader measures aimed at lowering drug prices, which could complicate any push for a stand-alone insulin measure. This change has enormous support among Americans, but can’t seem to get any real traction in Washington despite who’s in power. We’ll see what happens..

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3531954-bipartisan-pair-of-senators-unveils-bill-to-lower-insulin-costs/
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Nasal insulin doesn’t look like it works too well on diabetes, but a new study shows it may help to slow age related mental decline. This study found that after 12 months of once daily intranasal insulin, people with diabetes in the study performed better on cognitive tests than those diabetics in the placebo group. The non-diabetic group receiving the intranasal insulin also displayed improvements on decision making and verbal memory tests compared to non-diabetics in the placebo group.
The biggest improvements in the non-diabetic group were seen in those subjects who started the trial in a prediabetic state. This suggests the treatment may be most effective at slowing cognitive decline in either diabetics or those with prediabetes.
https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/insulin-nasal-spray-cognitive-decline-dementia-clinical-trial/
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Go to sleep, and don’t breathe too much. Researchers in the U.K. will test hypoxia to treat type 2 diabetes. Hypoxia is a state where the body does not receive sufficient amounts of oxygen.

Multiple studies have shown that hypoxia improves blood sugar levels and aids in weight loss. Although scientists do not fully understand how this works, it is suggested that hypoxia burns more calories in the body, resulting in lower appetites in individuals. These researchers want to recruit volunteers so they can figure out why. Each volunteer will be provided with a sleeping tent in which they have to sleep – at home - for 10-day periods on two separate occasions. For one of they nights, they oxygen levels will be set to 15 percent. That sounds ridiculous, but, the air we breathe right now is only about 21% oxygen. 15-percent is pretty typical for find at high altitudes or inside an airplane.
https://interestingengineering.com/lose-weight-while-asleep
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Another look at sleeping and type 2.. an exposure to light may increase the risk. Big sleep study at Northwestern University found that exposure to any amount of light during the sleep period was correlated with the higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity and hypertension in both older men and women. A study published earlier this year by the same team found for healthy adults in their 20s. Sleeping for only one night with a dim light, such as a TV set with the sound off, raised the blood sugar and heart rate.
An elevated heart rate at night has been shown in prior studies to be a risk factor for future heart disease and early death, while higher blood sugar levels are a sign of insulin resistance, which can ultimately lead to type 2 diabetes.
Instead of pulling people into a sleep lab, the new study used a real-world setting. Researchers gave 552 men and women between the ages of 63 and 84 an actigraph, a small device worn like a wristwatch that measures sleep cycles, average movement and light exposure.
Fewer than half of the adults in the study got five hours of darkness at night.
those who had higher amounts of light at night were also the most likely to have diabetes, obesity or hypertension."
Strategies for reducing light levels at night include positioning your bed away from windows or using light-blocking window shades. Don't charge laptops and cellphones in your bedroom where melatonin-altering blue light can disrupt your sleep. If low levels of light persist, try a sleep mask to shelter your eyes.
In that case, consider using nightlights positioned very low to the ground, and choose lights with an amber or red color. That spectrum of light has a longer wavelength, and is less intrusive and disruptive to our circadian rhythm, or body clock, than shorter wavelengths such as blue light.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/22/health/light-exposure-sleep-study-wellness/index.html
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https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-reveals-key-diabetes-drug-nature.htmlXX
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Nice story out of Kansas City where Chiefs offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. publicly enrolled himself in a TrialNet study. His brother lives with type 1 and his father died of DKA without knowing he had diabetes. Brown said he hopes participating in the trial will help others while helping himself and his family.

https://www.kshb.com/sports/chiefs-orlando-brown-jr-enrolls-in-trialnet-study-for-type-1-diabetes
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Right back to the news in a moment but first As I mentioned, The T1D Exchange Registry is an online research study, designed to harness the power of individuals with type 1 diabetes. It’s a research study conducted online over time, designed to foster innovation and improve the lives of people with T1D. Personal information remains confidential and participation is fully voluntary. Once enrolled, participants will complete annual surveys and have the opportunity to sign up for other studies on specific topics related to T1D. By sharing opinions, experiences and data, patients can help advance meaningful T1D treatment, care and policy Sign up at T1DExchange.org slash Stacey (that’s S-T-A-C-E-Y).
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Congrats to the great team of Ginger Vieira and Mike Lawson on their newest book. Ain’t Gonna Hide My T1D. Sherry the Sheep loves to draw and play basketball, but she’s worried about what her friends will think if they see her insulin & CGM. Ginger and Mike are long time advocates who both live with type 1. This is their 3rd children’s book together and I think they do a great job of balancing fun and education.
https://smile.amazon.com/Aint-Gonna-Hide-My-T1D/dp/B0B455DL45/ref=sr_1_4?qid=1655748198&refinements=p_27:GingerVieira&s=books&sr=1-4&text=GingerVieira
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And finally, The Human Trial premieres this weekend. This is a documentary all about stem cell transplantation as a functional cure for type 1. I first spoke to the people behind this film back in 2016 when they were well underway. The movie follows the first two patients in the Viacyte trials. You can host your own screening.. I’ll link up more information – as I do with all of these stories - in the show notes.
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And.. The Human Trial will be subject of next week’s long format show. My interview with Lisa Hepner is a follow up to the one six years ago when we first discussed this project. We go into the details of stem cell research, what changed and what she’s seen behind the scenes. The current long-format episode out now is all about Skirt My Pump, an ingenious idea from a women who’s lived with type 1 for 40 years and got fed up with figuring out where to put her pump.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.

Jun 21, 2022

Wearing an insulin pump can be a huge help when it comes to managing diabetes, but finding a place to put it can be difficult. Women’s clothing in particular, isn’t great for storing stuff. Erin Calhoun-Dulaney has lived with type 1 for 40 years and she finally got fed up enough to create her own product. We’ll talk about Skirt my Pump, her experience with T1D and her career as a Hollywood publicist.

Stacey also has information about Tandem's Mobile Bolus limited roll out. Click here to find out more and sign up. 

This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Jun 17, 2022

It’s “In the News..” got a few minutes? Get caught up! Top stories this week: Tandem Diabetes announces a limited launch of their mobile bolus feature (signup below), researchers look at how Basaglar stacks up, new guidelines for diabetes in the hospital, a T1D extreme athlete bikes across the USA and more

Learn about the T1D Exchange!

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines of the past seven days. we go live on social media first and then All sources linked up at diabetes dash connections dot com when this airs as a podcast.
XX
In the news is brought to you by T1D Exchange! T1D Exchange is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for the entire T1D population.
https://t1dexchange.org/stacey/
XX
Tandem’s mobile bolus feature is in limited release. Approved earlier this year, they’ve released the feature to a very small number of users and are expecting a wider, still limited, release in the next few weeks. This is the feature that allows you to bolus by phone and use the t-connect app to see pump data on your phone as well. It’s not full pump control via phone, but it’s a big step forward in terms of convenience for users and for Tandem’ next product, the MOBI pump – which won’t have a screen and will have full phone control. I’m asking Tandem to come on the show and share more about the features and how it works. It’s interesting that you can’t dismiss alerts and alarms from the app and must do so on the pump itself. I’ll link up the site you need to sign up for the limited release. You will need to update the software on your tslim x2 pump and take some additional online training. This is US only.
https://www.tandemdiabetes.com/landing-pages/remote-bolus
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The Eversense E3 gets European approval. This is a partnership between Ascensia diabetes care and Senseonics. The E3 is the six month version of the implantable CGM system. It’s also approved for insulin treatment decisions, which is a switch from the XL version already available in Europe. The E3 was approved in the US earlier this year and should be distributed in Europe in the fall.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ascensia-diabetes-care-announces-european-060000125.html
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New guidelines for treating diabetes in the hospital. This is from the Endocrine Society, which last updated their guidelines ten years ago. New this time around, hospital use of continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy, providing inpatient diabetes education as part of a comprehensive diabetes discharge-planning process, use of noninsulin glucose-lowering therapies, and more.
Adult patients with diabetes or newly recognized hyperglycemia account for greater than 30% of noncritically ill hospitalized patients.
https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/home/topics/endocrinology-information-center/endocrine-society-issues-new-guidelines-for-hospitalized-patients-with-diabetes/
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Works just as well and costs less.. that’s the upshot of a new study on Basaglar, the copycat insulin to Lantus when it comes to type 2 diabetes. The findings come from 14 commercial health plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Basaglar was approved as a biosimilar insulin glargine by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2015. This was a large study of thousands of patients and also showed that there was better adherence to Basaglar, no reason for that was given, but it could be the lower cost.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/975440
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Right back to the news in a moment but first As I mentioned, The T1D Exchange Registry is an online research study, designed to harness the power of individuals with type 1 diabetes. It’s a research study conducted online over time, designed to foster innovation and improve the lives of people with T1D. Personal information remains confidential and participation is fully voluntary. Once enrolled, participants will complete annual surveys and have the opportunity to sign up for other studies on specific topics related to T1D. By sharing opinions, experiences and data, patients can help advance meaningful T1D treatment, care and policy Sign up at T1DExchange.org slash Stacey (that’s S-T-A-C-E-Y).
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Very early but Swedish researchers have now identified a molecule that helps stimulate the growth of new insulin-producing cells, and uncovered how it works. These researchers looked at a molecule known as CID661578 and found that it binds to a protein called MNK2. In doing so, it allows two other proteins to interact at higher levels, which ultimately leads to greater beta cell regeneration. The team tested their molecule in zebrafish, and found that it lowered blood glucose levels when compared to a control group. In pig pancreas cells grown in the lab, the molecule was shown to trigger the formation of new beta cells, while human pancreas organoids given the molecule produced more insulin.
Long way to go, but still interesting.
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Type 1 Endurance athlete Sebastien Sasseville is taking part in the race across American this week. Called the world’s premier ultra endurance race, it’s literally a cycling event from the West Coast to the East Coast with a maximum lenthg of 12 days. That mean they have to cover about 275 miles every day.
The original concept runs all the way back to 1887 when newspaperman George Nellis rode across the country via railroad routes in 80 days. The more modern version began in the 1970s, when John Marino decided to see how fast he could get across the country on a bicycle. The first head-to-head race came in 1982, and there were four starters.
It's been called a brutal version of the tour de France. Sasseville has been on the show before and I’ll catch up with him after he recovers here. He’s been up Mt Everest, ran across Canada and did the brutal race across the Sahara Desert. He’s sponsored by Tandem.
https://cyclingtips.com/2022/06/how-to-watch-race-across-america-raam-route-map-elevation-live-dot-watching/
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On this week’s long format episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Sernova’s CEO all about their cell therapy and the search for a functional cure for type 1. Next week, a little less technology.. a fun conversation with a woman frustrated with the limits of wearing her pump, especially with skirts, so she found a new solution.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.

Jun 14, 2022

Big news from Sernova, one of the companies hoping that implantable stem cells will be a functional cure for diabetes. They recently announced that the first person in their trials with type 1 is completely off injected or infused insulin – and is making their own.

Stacey talks to Dr. Philip Toleikis, Sernova’s president and CEO. He explains how their process differs from some of the other companies looking at stem cells, talks about their partnerships and shares more about the patients doing well in this clinical trial.

This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Jun 10, 2022

It's "In the News.." got a few minutes? Get caught up! Top stories this week: The Federal Trade Commission probes the prescription drug middleman industry, once a week basal insulin moves forward, DIY insuln dosing systems get a thumbs up at ADA Scientific Sessions, Sernova's stem cell system releases great findings and more!

Learn more about the T1D Exchange

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines of the past seven days. we go live on social media first and then All sources linked up at diabetes dash connections dot com when this airs as a podcast.
XX
In the news is brought to you by T1D Exchange! T1D Exchange is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for the entire T1D population.
https://t1dexchange.org/stacey/
XX
The Federal Trade Commission will launch an inquiry into the prescription drug middleman industry.. requiring the six largest pharmacy benefit managers to provide information and records. They’re looking at PBMs such as CVS Caremark; Express Scripts, Inc.; OptumRx, Inc.; Humana Inc and more. The largest PBMs are now vertically integrated with the largest health insurance companies and wholly owned mail order and specialty pharmacies. In these roles, pharmacy benefit managers often have enormous influence on which drugs are prescribed to patients, which pharmacies patients can use, and how much patients ultimately pay at the pharmacy counter.
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/06/ftc-launches-inquiry-prescription-drug-middlemen-industry?utm_campaign=https://www.ftc.gov/news-&utm_content=1654622484&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
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Confirming what many of you have known for years.. an open-source automated insulin delivery system -- also known as a do-it-yourself system -- was both safe and effective for patients with type 1 diabetes. This is from the CREATE trial, designed to test DIY system, presented for the first time at the ADA Scientific Sessions. This system was made up of the OpenAPS algorithm from a version of AndroidAPS implemented in a smartphone, paired with the DANA-i insulin pump and Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor. The researchers previously published additional information in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ada/99109
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Stem cell study showing great results. Sernova says the first three patients of six total continue to be insulin independent following treatment. One of the patients has been insulin-free for more than two years, while the other two have been free of the need for medication injections for six months and three months, respectively. At this point, the other three patients in the study have not had the device long enough to determine measurable results. The first three all have A1Cs in a normal, nondiabetic range.
Sernova's Cell Pouch is an implantable device that releases the primary donor islets. The device is implanted under the skin in a minimally-invasive procedure. We’re talking to Sernova for next week’s show; long way to go here but another good result for stem cells.
https://www.biospace.com/article/sernova-cell-pouch-device-keeps-type-1-diabetes-patient-insulin-free-for-two-years/
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Getting closer to once-a-week basal insulin. New study says Novo Nordisk insulin icodec achieved better results than Lantus in some aspects of the study and that overall it was – this is interesting wording – non-inferior. Another previous study showed it also matched well to Tresiba, but that Tresiba caused fewer lows than the once-weekly basal. This study was about type 2 diabetes but insuln icodec is in other trials for people with type 1.

https://www.biospace.com/article/novo-nordisk-scores-phase-iii-insulin-win-strengthening-market-position/
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New partnership between Diabeloop – which makes an automated insulin algorithm - and SOOIL which makes pumps. These are two French companies that have been working together since 2020 but this new announcement was delayed by COVID. They want to bring the product – Diabeloop’s DBLG-1 I controller and SOOIL’s Dana ACE Pump to the US, Europe and Korea.
https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/diabeloop-sooil-automated-insulin-diabetes/
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Civica continues to move ahead with the development of its affordable insulins. They’ve announced they’ll partner with the German company Profil for the clinical trials. Civica plans to set a maximum recommended price to the consumer of no more than $30 per vial and no more than $55 for a box of five pen cartridges. Contingent on FDA approval, Civica anticipates that its insulins will be available for purchase beginning in 2024.
https://www.healthcarepackaging.com/supplier-news/news/22262909/civicarx-civica-selects-profil-as-clinical-trial-partner-for-affordable-insulin-initiative
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New study out of Israel shows that obesity in teenagers may lead to type 1 diabetes a few years later. The study, of nearly 1.5 million Israeli teenagers, found that those who were obese were twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes by young adulthood, versus those in the normal weight range. The senior researcher on the study says it’s not clear why obesity would raise the risk of type 1. They think it may the a trigger in people with genetically susceptible. Obesity also has other effects — including vitamin D deficiency and alterations in the gut's bacterial makeup — that could impair immune function.
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-06-06/obesity-in-teen-years-might-trigger-type-1-diabetes
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Right back to the news in a moment but first we’ve got a new sponsor. As I mentioned, The T1D Exchange Registry is an online research study, designed to harness the power of individuals with type 1 diabetes. It’s a research study conducted online over time, designed to foster innovation and improve the lives of people with T1D. Personal information remains confidential and participation is fully voluntary. Once enrolled, participants will complete annual surveys and have the opportunity to sign up for other studies on specific topics related to T1D. By sharing opinions, experiences and data, patients can help advance meaningful T1D treatment, care and policy Sign up at T1DExchange.org slash Stacey (that’s S-T-A-C-E-Y).
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On this week’s long format episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Dexcom’s CEO Kevin Sayer. We get more information about the G7 launch, after FDA approval of course and I asked him your questions about everything from IOS issues to airport scanners. Next week, Sernova joins me to explain their stem cell pouch technology
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.

Jun 7, 2022

Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer joins Stacey from the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions with new G7 information, a response to Abbott’s Libre 3 approval, addressing rumors about acquiring another diabetes company and a lot more.

This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Jun 3, 2022

Got a few minutes? Get caught up on the top diabetes stories and headlines of the past week.

The FDA approves Abbott's Freestyle Libre, Dexcom addresses reports it may buy Insulet, Ozempic becomes a TikTok trend, Diabetes Scholarships for college and more!

Check out Stacey's book: The World's Worst Diabetes Mom!

Join the Diabetes Connections Facebook Group!

Sign up for our newsletter here

-----

Use this link to get one free download and one free month of Audible, available to Diabetes Connections listeners!
-----

Episode Transcription Below (or coming soon!)

Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

*Click here to learn more about OMNIPOD*

*Click here to learn more about AFREZZA*

*Click here to learn more about DEXCOM*

Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and these are the top diabetes stories and headlines of the past seven days. we go live on social media first and then All sources linked up at diabetes dash connections dot com when this airs as a podcast.
XX
In the news is brought to you by T1D Exchange! T1D Exchange is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for the entire T1D population.
https://t1dexchange.org/stacey/
XX
Our top story, FreeStye Libre 3 gets FDA approval. This is a 14 -day CGM, Abbot says it’s smaller and thinner, about the size of two pennies stacked up. Abbott also claims Libre 3 is the most accurate 14-day CGM based on new results. It’s worth noting that there isn’t another 14-day CGM on the market.. Dexcom is ten days and the upcoming G7 seems to have similar accuracy. However, Libre is less expensive and they say there will be no price increase for this new model.
Libre has had iCGM designation since the Libre 2 – but the FDA says it’s still not allowed for use with automated insulin delivery systems. I’ve asked to speak with Abbott and we’ll find out more about why that is and what the company plans to do if it can’t integrate with insulin pumps in the US.

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Meanwhile, Dexcom pushes back on talk that it was interested in acquiring Insulet. Here’s part of the quote: It is generally our policy not to comment on rumors or speculation, however, in light of recent sustained media and market speculation as well as the upcoming American Diabetes Association conference, we wish to confirm that Dexcom is not in active discussions regarding a merger transaction at this time. We do not intend to comment further on this topic and we assume no obligation to make any further announcement or disclosure should circumstances change."
I’m set to talk to Dexcom’s CEO at ADA and I’ll definitely ask him about this, even though they say they won’t comment further. I do think it’s interesting they use the word “merger” and not also “acquisition” – but the stock market seems to believe them. Dexcom went up on the news.
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New information could link environmental pollution to type 1. New study from Norway says even low concentrations of such pollutants can result in cells producing less insulin. New cases in Norway have doubled in children and teens since the 1970s. This study also included samples from American kids. Overall, the researchers found a larger proportion of those with type 1 diabetes these pollutants in their blood. They also found when mice were exposed to the pollutants, insulin production went down.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220530/Environmental-pollutants-may-be-the-reason-behind-development-of-type-1-diabetes.aspx

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Whey protein may be the next big thing for people with type 2. Drinking a pre-made shot before meals with a low dose of whey protein seems to help better control blood glucose levels. In this study, people went about their daily lives with no changes but the whey drink. Then they spent a week with no whey, all while wearing a CGM. On average, people had two hours additional per day of normal blood sugar levels compared to the week they skipped the protein drink. The researchers believe the whey slows down food in the digestive system and also stimulate hormones than help keep glucose from rising. This was a small study, but you can bet you’ll be hearing a lot more follow up.. it’s a simple and promising treatment.
https://scitechdaily.com/just-a-small-amount-of-protein-supplement-helps-control-type-2-diabetes/
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At least at one hospital, the pandemic showed the telemedicine and CGM use can make a big difference in kids with type 1. For the study published in BMC Pediatrics, these researchers used data from Children's Medical Center Dallas . While the number of office visits among patients decreased during the pandemic, there was no effect on disease management in this group – both glucose control and hospitalization rates were unchanged. However, the results highlighted existing disparities among patients in minority and low-income demographics. Both before and during the pandemic, Black and Hispanic patients and those without commercial insurance had worse glucose control and higher hospitalization rates. There was however a dramatic increase in CGM use by patients without commercial insurance, likely because it was then that CGM was offered to Medicaid recipients in Texas.
The researchers believe the increased use of continuous glucose monitoring along with the successful implementation of telemedicine greatly contributed to preventing worse outcomes in this patient population.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220531/Telemedicine-continuous-glucose-monitoring-helped-attenuate-COVID-19-impact-on-children-with-Type-1-diabetes.aspx
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Heads up if you take Ozempic, might want to get that prescription squared away and filled.. a quote - “unexpected increase in consumer demand” seems to have come because of a Tik Tok trend. TikTok users have been documenting their weight loss using the hashtag #ozempic, even though it’s not approved for that use, only for treatment of type 2. This seems to be more of an issue in Australia and the UK.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/31/shortage-of-diabetes-medication-ozempic-after-tiktok-users-promote-drug-for-weight-loss
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Right back to the news in a moment but first we’ve got a new sponsor. As I mentioned, The T1D Exchange Registry is an online research study, designed to harness the power of individuals with type 1 diabetes. It’s a research study conducted online over time, designed to foster innovation and improve the lives of people with T1D. Personal information remains confidential and participation is fully voluntary. Once enrolled, participants will complete annual surveys and have the opportunity to sign up for other studies on specific topics related to T1D. By sharing opinions, experiences and data, patients can help advance meaningful T1D treatment, care and policy Sign up at T1DExchange.org slash Stacey (that’s S-T-A-C-E-Y).
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ADA Scientific Sessions kicks off today and continues through the weekend. I have a virtual press pass and I’m sure next week’s newscast will be chock full of newly released studies. My email is already full of the previews and I wish all my friends traveling to the first in person scientific sessions since I believe 2019 a safe trip.
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Congrats to the newest class of Diabetes Scholars! Beyond Type 1’s program awarded over 50 scholarships to students living with Type 1 diabetes in 2022. At over $166,000 these scholarships are made possible by individual donors and partner organizations. New this year, the Lilly Diabetes Thom Scher Policy plus advocacy scholarship. Thom was the CEO of Beyond Type 1 until his sudden death last year. The Scholarship in his name is for a student with a strong background in type 1 diabetes policy and advocacy.
100% of scholarship funds donated by individuals or partners are awarded to recipients, with Beyond Type 1 absorbing all operational costs associated with the program.
https://diabetesscholars.org/class-of-2022/
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On this week’s long format episode, you’ll hear about Savannah Johnson’s Type 1 Way Ticket. Next week, Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer from ADA.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts
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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