Dexcom has been hyping the next generation of its groundbreaking continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for years. But When Will the G7 Be Released?? Most of the information below comes courtesy of Dexcom’s Chief Technology Officer, Jacob Leach, who spoke to Diabetes Daily in late 2020.

The release of the Dexcom G7 has been pushed back far beyond original projections. One entirely understandable reason was the intrusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted many clinical trials. The company also quickly adapted its technology to aid in-hospital glucose monitoring for COVID patients, which may have temporarily diverted the business’ attention from its longterm product development.

In late October, Dexcom announced that its pivotal American and European clinical trials were completed, and that it would “soon formally seek FDA clearance for its next-gen G7 system.” Optimistic investors pushed the stock price up by 9% in a day. At that point, the company still hoped to launch its new CGM in Europe before the end of 2021, although it now appears that they missed that deadline.

The simple fact is, we just don’t know. It seems likely that the G7 will be released at some point in the first half of 2022, but as long as the company itself stays tight-lipped, we only have speculation.

Read more:  What’s Going on with the Dexcom G7?

Abbott targets consumer health, aims to turn diabetes success into wearable growth driver was written by Nick Paul Taylor for MedTechDive.com, 7 January 2022.  

Abbott has shaken up the diabetes market with its continuous glucose monitor FreeStyle Libre, resulting in rapid growth. In the third quarter of 2021, FreeStyle Libre and Libre Sense sales approached $1 billion. To put that figure in context, Abbott’s entire diabetes franchise made $1.4 billion across all of 2017, the year FreeStyle Libre launched in the U.S.   The success of FreeStyle Libre, which uses a small, 14-day sensor to non-invasively track glucose levels, has spurred Abbott to explore other applications of the technology.

The result is Lingo, a product line aimed at consumers who want to track biomarkers in relation to wellbeing or athletic performance.  Abbott revealed the technology in a Consumer Electronics Show presentation, becoming the first healthcare company to headline the event and giving it a high-profile, 60-minute slot in which to pitch the technology. The company’s push into the consumer space is part of a broader trend in medtech.

“We’re going to translate a wide range of biometric signals: glucose, ketones, lactate and alcohol. These are all important parts of your metabolic health and Lingo is being designed to measure these biomarkers and provide deeper, more meaningful insights. Monitoring these biomarkers for the first time will offer unprecedented understanding of human metabolism that can improve decisions around general health, nutrition and even athletic performance,” Abbott CEO Robert Ford told the CES conference.

Read more:  Abbott targets consumer health, aims to turn diabetes success into wearable growth driver

Facts about diabetes and COVID-19 vaccination was published by Susan Weiner for Healio.com/endocrinology, 4 January 2022. 

Susan Weiner, MS, RDN, CDCES, FADCES, talks with Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDCES (pediatric endocrinologist, T1D and founder of Sugar Surfing) about the effects of COVID-19 infection and vaccination for people with diabetes.

We know people with diabetes are at higher risk for severe illness with COVID-19. Can they lower their diabetes-related risk? Dr. Ponder: The same steps used by others to reduce the risk of COVID infection applies to persons with diabetes — even more so. The basics: Masking, social distancing, avoiding large crowds and frequent hand-washing are vital to lowering risk for infection. A medical mask or N95 quality mask is more useful than a cloth mask if someone must go into risky areas. But keep in mind that friends and family members can also transmit the infection. Around our inner circle, there is always a greater tendency to let our guard down.

Isolation and hygiene measures, while essential, are not enough. Immunization with either the Moderna or the Pfizer vaccine, plus a later booster, provides the best-proven method to lower risks for serious illness or death from COVID-19. Getting boosted with the non-original vaccine brand is a clever idea.  Working to get the best achievable blood glucose profile is associated with greater resiliency against any infection, COVID included. That means lowering HbA1c toward the goal set by the person with diabetes and the diabetes provider or team. 

Do COVID vaccines affect blood glucose levels?  Dr. Ponder: The metabolic response a person has to any vaccine is an individual one. This is the same with COVID vaccines. Aside from a sore arm, the signs and symptoms are the same as with other vaccines and can range from nothing at all to fatigue, malaise, headache, gastrointestinal upset, low-grade fever and body aches. As with any other vaccine, the impact on blood glucose levels may be none to minimal to large. In most instances, it is more likely to be minimal.

What other advice do you give people with diabetes regarding COVID-19 infection or vaccination?  Ponder: The greatest medical advancements of the 20th century were the creation of antibiotics and vaccines. This saved countless lives globally for more than a century and continues to do so each day. Sadly, this is taken for granted in many areas of the world, especially in the U.S. Infectious diseases, regardless of their origins, are part of our collective past, present and future.

Most people with diabetes are dominating or living productive lives with a disease that was uniformly fatal before the 20th century. Success over diabetes is possible due to science and good sense to leverage every available tool with prudent and proactive decisions made each day. If you fall ill to COVID, the science behind its management improves daily. Vaccines unequivocally blunt COVID’s impact on us. Oral FDA-approved medications are now available to keep early COVID from overwhelming the body. As a person with diabetes, take these facts into account as you make your own choices regarding COVID-19 prevention and management.

Read more: Facts about diabetes and COVID-19 vaccination

Vitamin D Supplements Review was shared on ConsumerLab.com, 3 January 2021.  Find the Best Vitamin D Supplement. Tests and Reviews of Popular Vitamin D Supplements & CL’s Top Picks.

Here’s a VERY in-depth discussion (with references) all about Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. There are two major forms of vitamin D found in food and supplements: D(ergocalciferol) and D (cholecalciferol).  Vitamin D is produced naturally in human skin exposed to ultraviolet B light and occurs in some animal products, such as cod liver oil, and, in smaller amounts, in other fatty (oily) sh such as herrings, mackerel, sardines, and salmon. 

• • What does vitamin D do? 
  • How much vitamin D do I need? 
  • What form of vitamin D is best? 
  • How much vitamin D should I take?
  •  When to take vitamin D
  • Top Picks for vitamin D
  • Don’t overdo it! Vitamin D safety and side effects:

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

Email