In this week’s issue of The Savvy Diabetic: 

• • • Dexcom to Launch G7 15 Day CGM December 1 in the US
    • Type 1 Diabetes Cured in Mice with Gentle Blood Stem-Cell & Pancreatic Islet Transplant
    • New ‘Smart Insulin’ Shows Promise in Reducing Hypoglycemia Emergencies
    • Hidden Immune Cells Linked to Early T1D Detected in Lymph Nodes
    • Omnipod’s Future Pipeline Update with Dr. David Ahn
    • Juicebox Podcast: T1D Joanne Milo Talks about Aging with T1D
    • Barriers to Care in Aging: Voices from the T1D Community
    • When “Type 1” Isn’t Always Autoimmune: The YODA Study
    • Stigler’s Law of Eponymy & How It Applies to the Discovery of Insulin!

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Dexcom to launch G7 15 Day CGM next month by Sean Whooley for DrugDeliveryBsuienss.com, 20 November 2025.

The San Diego–based company plans to make the CGM available for people over the age of 18 with diabetes on Dec. 1. Initially, the company plans to make the sensor available for users who receive their CGMs through durable medical equipment (DME) providers. At launch, the CGM pairs with the iLet Bionic Pancreas from Beta Bionics and the Omnipod 5 from Insulet. The company says it has work underway with Tandem Diabetes Care to finalize integration G7 15 Day with its pumps as well. The company also announced that the G7 15 Day works with Smart Basal, its new CGM-integrated basal insulin dosing optimizer.

G7 15 Day received FDA clearance for people over the age of 18 years old in the U.S. in April. Clearance made the G7, Dexcom’s latest-generation CGM, the longest-lasting wearable CGM.  New features include

• • • • longer wear, reaching up to 15.5 days, plus
      • a mean absolute relative difference (MARD, a measure of CGM accuracy) of 8%
      • easier glucose management with fewer monthly sensor changes and reduced waste

“We’ve heard loud and clear from our users — they want more time with the Dexcom G7 because it gives them confidence, clarity, and control over their health,” said Grant Ovzinsky, VP of Product Management at Dexcom. “With 15.5 days* of wear, we’re delivering on that ask. Fewer sensor changes mean less disruption and more time benefiting from the most accurate CGM. It’s a meaningful step forward in empowering people with diabetes to live life on their terms.”

Read more: Dexcom to launch G7 15 Day CGM next month

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Type 1 diabetes cured in mice with gentle blood stem-cell and pancreatic islet transplant by Krista Conger for med.stanford.edu/news, 18 November 2025.

A combination blood stem cell and pancreatic islet cell transplant from an immunologically mismatched donor completely prevented or cured Type 1 diabetes in mice, according to a study by Stanford Medicine researchers.  None of the animals developed graft-versus-host disease — in which the immune system arising from the donated blood stem cells attacks healthy tissue in the recipient — and the destruction of islet cells by the native host immune system was halted. After the transplants, the animals did not require the use of immunosuppressive drugs or insulin for the duration of the six-month experiment.

“The possibility of translating these findings into humans is very exciting,” said Seung K. Kim, MD, PhD, the KM Mulberry Professor and a professor of developmental biology, gerontology, endocrinology, and metabolism. “The key steps in our study — which result in animals with a hybrid immune system containing cells from both the donor and the recipient — are already being used in the clinic for other conditions. We believe this approach will be transformative for people with Type 1 diabetes or other autoimmune diseases, as well as for those who need solid organ transplants.”

Kim, who directs the Stanford Diabetes Research Center and the Northern California Breakthrough T1D Center of Excellence, is the senior author of the study, which was published online Nov. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Graduate and medical student Preksha Bhagchandani is the lead author of the research.

Read more: Type 1 diabetes cured in mice with gentle blood stem-cell and pancreatic islet transplant

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New ‘smart insulin’ shows promise in reducing low blood sugar emergencies from Indiana University School of Medicine, medicine.iu.edu, 9 October 2025.

Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered a new way to regulate blood glucose levels using a lab-designed protein, possibly opening the door to a new treatment avenue for people with Type 1 diabetes.  The findings, published in ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science, showed improvement in rats treated with the substance, which combines insulin and glucagon into one molecule.

The research team’s new protein works by mimicking the two hormones and in turn signaling the liver, which naturally responds to insulin and glucagon depending on the body’s needs.  The effort was spearheaded by IU School of Medicine Distinguished Professor Michael A. Weiss, MD, PhD, and compliments his previous research on similar “smart insulins.” Previously, Weiss created a synthetic hinge that could react to such a substance and more accurately regulate body blood sugar levels.

“For the past century, coping with hypoglycemia (the lows) has been an ever-present challenge in Type 1 diabetes,” Weiss said. “This has made creating glucose-responsive insulins (smart insulins) a major goal.  Our approach simplifies such design by exploiting an endogenous ‘smart’ switch in the liver, how the body naturally adjusts relative hormonal responses based on whether the blood glucose level is high or low:  Too high, insulin wins; too low, glucagon wins.”

Read more: New ‘smart insulin’ shows promise in reducing low blood sugar emergencies

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Hidden immune cells linked to early type 1 diabetes detected in lymph nodes by Andrew Zinn for Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published by MedicalXpress.com, 21 November 2025

Pinpointing a hidden group of immune “attack” cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes that appear earlier in the development of Type 1 diabetes could offer the first real chance to detect—and even stop—T1D, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, detailed in Science Immunology.  “For the first time, this research has caught the attack cells in the act while the disease is still unfolding; we’re not just seeing the wreckage after the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas,” Golnaz Vahedi, Ph.D., a professor of genetics and co-corresponding author of the study.

Analyzing nearly one million immune cells—one cell at a time—from the pancreatic lymph nodes and spleens of 43 organ donors, some with T1D, some showing early warning signs, and some healthy, researchers identified a unique subset of CD4 T cells: a type of “helper” immune cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes of people with active T1D. These cells ramp up two proteins, NFKB1 and BACH2, which act like master switches, turning genes on and off to ramp up the immune attack on insulin-making cells.

“The study showed the same cell pattern occurred in pre-type 1-diabetic people, who don’t yet show the symptoms. This suggests that the immune misfire begins early, potentially while plenty of insulin-producing beta cells are still healthy,” said Vahedi.

Read more: Hidden immune cells linked to early type 1 diabetes detected in lymph nodes

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Omnipod’s Future Pipeline Update with Dr. David Ahn, Chief of Diabetes Services, Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center for Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA, posted on Instagram: @ahncall

At a recent Investor Day in November 2020, Omnipod just detailed their upcoming plans for the next several years, including Omnipod 6 and a fully closed-loop system targeted for Type 2 Diabetes patients.  COO Eric Benjamin presented the major innovations and planned upgrades by year:

• • • • 2026: Upgrades of Omnipod 5 include: a lower glucose target of 100mg/dl. (The previous lower was 110); algorithm will be less quick to kick you out of automate into auto-limited mode; Libre 3 Plus integration by 1H 2026; Omnipod Discover will be a clinician portal providing patient insights
      • 2027: Introducing the Omnipod 6, which includes: Improved algorithm that learns from each user’s unique insulin requirements, designed to bring better performance and outcomes, especially for people who bolus less; hardware changes to improve connectivity with other CGM’s as their antennas get smaller; over-the-air configurable pods will enable faster upgrades due to the fact that the pods can be updated over-the-air, eliminating the need to have to find a specific type of pod for one reason; new app and controller
      • 2028: Fully closed loop for T2D, which includes: no meal announcements; ready out-of-the-box with no need for initial settings
      • After 2028: A fully closed loop for T1D; higher insulin capacity; longer wear periods; form factor improvements; use in Basal-only T2D; next-gen pod hardware

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On Juicebox Podcast:  #1683, T1D to 100, 17 November 2025. 61-year type 1 veteran Joanne Milo about aging with T1D, staying prepared, navigating independence, and building a safer, smarter future for older adults with diabetes. 

“Hey everybody. Today on the podcast, I’m speaking with Joanne Milo. She is a 71-year-old person with Type 1 Diabetes who has just launched a fantastic website for people who are older and living with Type 1 Diabetes, called T1Dto100.com.  I want you to check it out right now. Whether you’re older or younger, it doesn’t matter. This website is about being prepared. T1Dto100.com … go check it out.”

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Barriers to Care in Aging: Voices from the T1D Community  by Jewels Doskicz for T1DExchange.org, 21 November 2025.

Given that 7 in 10 Americans will require long-term care after age 65, we’ll explore concerns and challenges surrounding nursing homes and long-term care facilities, as well as the gaps in T1D care that are becoming apparent as people age.  “Facilities are refusing to accept people who live with T1D — and they can,” said Joanne Milo, founder of T1D to 100. “Others have been told caregivers are uncomfortable with diabetes technology, families will have to provide diabetes care, or they’ll have to switch to multiple daily injections. Some facilities aren’t equipped to treat low glucose levels, so they call 911 for basic hypoglycemia support. The stories are hard to fathom.” 

However, as people age, new challenges can emerge when their needs exceed the capacity of their support systems. A situation that often prompts consideration of relocating from home to a long-term care facility or nursing home. Finding a facility equipped to handle the 24/7 demands of T1D can be a significant challenge.  

What’s more, a large body of research suggests that people living with T1D are at higher risk of developing dementia — which is likely due to a combination of disease-related influences, genetics, and environmental factors. For some, this dual diagnosis adds an extra layer of complexity to managing T1D.   

Stanford researchers estimate that people with T1D make over 180 health-related decisions a day. Without preserved cognitive abilities, or access to trained caregivers, safe and effective diabetes management becomes nearly impossible. 

Read more: Barriers to Care in Aging: Voices from the T1D Community

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When “Type 1” Isn’t Always Autoimmune: What the YODA Study Means for You by Dr. Paula Diab for IntegratedDiabetes.com, November 2025.

The YODA study (an acronym for Young-Onset Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa) has certainly brought “new hope” to our understanding of type 1 diabetes.  A landmark paper in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (Katte JC et al., Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2025; 13: 745–53) reveals that not all young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have the classic autoimmune form of the disease. In fact, researchers found a novel, non-autoimmune type of insulin-deficient diabetes that may also be present in some African Americans.

The results suggest that some individuals—particularly those of African ancestry—may have a form of non-autoimmune, insulin-deficient diabetes that looks like T1D but arises from a different biological pathway. This distinction matters because:

• • Diagnosis: Autoantibody testing (GAD, IA-2, ZnT8) can help determine whether a person truly has autoimmune T1D. Those who test negative might benefit from additional genetic or C-peptide testing.
  • Treatment: Both autoimmune and non-autoimmune insulin-deficient diabetes require insulin therapy, but understanding the cause could lead to personalized treatment strategies and help avoid misclassification as type 2 diabetes.
  • Research and prevention: Identifying this new subtype may open the door to studying environmental, nutritional, or infectious triggers that contribute to β-cell failure outside of autoimmunity.

Read more: When “Type 1” Isn’t Always Autoimmune: What the YODA Study Means for You

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Stigler’s law of eponymy as stated on Wikipedia … and how it applies to the discovery of insulin!

Stigler’s law of eponymy, proposed by University of Chicago statistics professor Stephen Stigler in 1980, states that no scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer. Examples include Hubble’s law, which was derived by Georges Lemaître two years before Edwin Hubble; the Pythagorean theorem, which was known to Babylonian mathematicians before Pythagoras; and Halley’s Comet, which was observed by astronomers since at least 240 BC (although its official designation is due to the first ever mathematical prediction of such astronomical phenomenon in the sky, not to its discovery).

List of Examples of Stigler’s Law

So WHAT ABOUT INSULIN?  

Stigler’s law on the discovery of insulin is that while the discovery is credited to Frederick Banting and John Macleod, Charles Best and J.B. Collip also made crucial contributions, and prior research by others like Nicolae Paulescu existed. The law states that no scientific discovery is named after its original discoverer, which aligns with the insulin case, where the key figures who received the Nobel Prize did not complete the entire discovery process alone. 

• • • • Initial researchers: Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolated and extracted insulin from a dog’s pancreas in 1921.
      • Purification and testing: James Collip purified the insulin extract, allowing for successful clinical tests in 1922.
      • Nobel Prize controversy: The 1923 Nobel Prize for the discovery was awarded to Banting and Macleod, which caused controversy because Charles Best was not included.
      • Prior work: Romanian scientist Nicolae Paulescu had also discovered and extracted insulin as early as 1916, before Banting and Best’s work, though his discovery is often overlooked.
      • Stigler’s Law: The “insulin” situation is a perfect example of Stigler’s law of eponymy because the discovery is not named after just one person, and several individuals, including those with prior work, made critical contributions, yet the credit and prize went to a select few.