Tandem warns iPhone app still draining insulin pump batteries by Elise Reuter for MedTechDive.com, 15 August 2024. Despite a software update in March, users are still reporting that the app is rapidly depleting their insulin pump batteries, causing unexpected shutdowns.

In a notice sent to customers on Aug. 9, Tandem said it plans to issue another software update to fix any remaining problems. People with versions 2.7 or 2.7.1 of the t:connect app on Apple’s iOS mobile operating system may experience the problem. 

The app may “intermittently retrieve significantly more data than is necessary from the pump,” Tandem said, causing it to crash and relaunch. This can lead to excessive Bluetooth communication that may drain the pump’s battery and cause it to shut down sooner than expected.  An unexpected shutdown could result in under-delivery of insulin and hyperglycemia for people with diabetes. Users may be at a higher risk if the battery depletion happens at night, the company said. 

For users with an affected pump, Tandem recommended charging it for 10 to 15 minutes every day and ensuring the pump is at or near full charge before going to sleep. The company also said to charge the pump “as soon as possible” after a low-battery alert.

Read more: Tandem warns iPhone app still draining insulin pump batteries

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A New CGM? Your Glucose, Your Singaporean Way, CGMS.Buzud.com.

At BUZUD, we recognize the distinct challenges associated with managing diabetes in Singapore. That’s why we’ve introduced a cutting-edge continuous glucose monitoring system, specifically designed to align with the Singaporean lifestyle. Our innovative solution offers real-time glucose readings, empowering you to proactively manage your health through insightful trend analysis.

Read more: Your Glucose, Your Singaporean Way

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Medicare Unveils First 10 Negotiated Drug Prices by Joyce Frieden for MedPageToday.com, 15 August 2024. Prices slashed by as much as 79%.

Medicare’s drug price negotiation program, passed in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), lowers prescription drug costs for seniors by empowering Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs. 3 medications used by T1Ds on the list are insulin aspart injection (NovoLog, Humalog), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga), and Empaglifloxin (Jardiance).

“Americans pay way too much for their prescription drugs; that’s what makes today’s announcement so historic,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said on a phone call with reporters Wednesday night. “For the first time ever, Medicare negotiated directly with drug companies, and the American people are better off for it.”

The 10 drugs chosen for negotiation by CMS — single-source brand-name drugs with no therapeutically equivalent generic or biosimilar competition — were targeted for negotiation based on their total expenditures in the Medicare Part D program. These drugs are either costly, widely used, or both. 

Looking ahead, CMS will choose up to 15 additional drugs for price negotiation for 2027, up to 15 more drugs (to include drugs covered under Medicare Part B) for 2028, and up to 20 more drugs for price negotiation each year after that

DOES IT STUN YOU that it will take 3 more years for CMS to pick their next drugs???

Read more: Medicare Unveils First 10 Negotiated Drug Prices

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New Study Tests Liver-Targeted Insulin in Type 1 Diabetes by Susannah Chen for diaTribe.org, 12 August 2024.

If you are an adult who has type 1 diabetes, you may be eligible to participate in a trial examining the impact of an investigational liver-targeted insulin on blood glucose control, A1C, and nighttime lows.

• • • Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT06238778
    • Trial Name: Phase 2b Trial Comparing HDV-Insulin Lispro to Insulin Lispro in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Receiving Insulin Degludec (OPTI-2)
    • Diabetes Type: Type 1 diabetes
    • Trial Sponsor: Diasome Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This study is researching whether administering a liver-targeting insulin called HDV-L insulin (Hepatocyte-directed Vesicles-insulin lispro), will improve glycemic control by reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia while maintaining or improving A1C (HbA1c) in people living with type 1 diabetes. This study is recruiting in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. To enroll or learn more about this study, contact Todd Hobbs, MD at Diasome Pharmaceuticals at thobbs@diasome.com or call 216-780-9324. 

HDV-L insulin is designed to act on the liver to enhance glucose storage and decrease the frequency of severe hypoglycemia in individuals requiring insulin. It is not currently approved for use. Results from a 2020 Diasome study called OPTI-1 indicated that HDV-L is associated with a 25% reduction in level 2 hypoglycemic events (blood glucose readings below 54 mg/dl).

In addition to measuring the incidence rate of and percentage of time experiencing level 2 hypoglycemia, the OPTI-2 study will also evaluate HDV-L’s impact on A1C, triglyceride, and liver enzyme levels when compared to the use of regular insulin lispro (such as Humalog, Admelog, or Lyumjev).

You may be eligible if you: 

• • • Are aged 18-79 with type 1 diabetes confirmed by a blood C-peptide test result of <0.6 nmol/L
    • You have been on insulin for at least 6 months
    • Are willing to use a designated CGM device and forgo an insulin pump or AID device throughout the study
    • Have an A1C reading between 6.5-9.0
    • Use a total daily insulin dose that is 1.25 U/kg/day or less

People who have used weight loss medications, dietary supplements for weight loss, or glucose-lowering medications outside of insulin 30 days before the study are not eligible to participate. The use of glycemia treatments not approved for type 1 diabetes by the FDA, e.g., metformin, SGT-2 inhibitor, GLP-1 receptor agonist, and closed-loop insulin delivery using unapproved algorithms are excluded.

Read more, plus additional criteria to participate: New Study Tests Liver-Targeted Insulin in Type 1 Diabetes

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Scientists hail ‘smart’ insulin that responds to changing blood sugar levels in real time by Andrew Gregory for TheGuardian.com, 11 August 2024.

Scientists have found a solution that experts say comes as close to a cure for type 1 diabetes as any drug therapy could: smart insulin that lies dormant in the body and only springs into action when needed. Researchers in the US, Australia and China have successfully designed novel insulins that mimic the body’s natural response to changing blood sugar levels and respond instantly in real-time.

The new glucose-responsive insulins (GRIs) only become active when there is a certain amount of sugar in the blood to prevent hyperglycemia (high blood glucose). They become inactive again when levels drop below a certain point, avoiding hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). In the future, patients may only need insulin once a week, experts believe.  The funding for smart insulin research comes from the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, a partnership between Diabetes UK, JDRF, and the Steve Morgan Foundation. 

Almost £3m has been awarded to six research projects including teams at Stanford University in the US, Monash University in Australia, and Zhejiang University in China. Each project aims to fine-tune smart insulin to act faster and more precisely, relieving some or all of the huge burden of managing type 1 diabetes and reducing the risk of long-term complications. Four of the projects are focused exclusively on testing GRIs.

A fifth has developed a new ultrafast, short-acting insulin. The sixth project is focused on a protein that combines insulin with another hormone, glucagon. Unlike insulin, which helps remove glucose from the blood, glucagon stimulates the liver to release more glucose when levels in the blood run low. Having both hormones included in one formulation could keep blood glucose levels stable by working to prevent high and low blood glucose levels.

Rachel Connor, the director of research partnerships at JDRF UK, said: “By imagining a world where insulins can respond to changing glucose levels in real-time, we hope these six projects will help to create that new reality, relieving people with type 1 of the relentless demands that living with this condition places on them today.”

Read more: Scientists hail ‘smart’ insulin that responds to changing blood sugar levels in real time

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Are Fish Oil Supplements GOOD or BAD for you?  It DEPENDS!  Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases published by Ge Chen, Zhengmin Qian, Junguo Zhang, Shiyu Zhang, and others, by BMJMedicine.bmj.com, 3 April 2024.

Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population but could be beneficial for progression of cardiovascular disease from atrial fibrillation to major adverse cardiovascular events, and from atrial fibrillation to death. Further studies are needed to determine the precise mechanisms for the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease events with regular use of fish oil supplements.

Interpretation:  Fish oil supplements may be beneficial for patients who have experienced CVD atrial fibrillation and stroke … but may have negative consequences for those who have NOT had a stroke!  Check with your cardiologist!

Read more: Regular use of fish oil supplements and course of cardiovascular diseases

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Diabetes Media Reviews is a new Facebook Group with reviews of the diabetes media ecosystem, by Chris Wilson (aka the Glucose Genius).  

This is a new group that contains excellent reviews, from books and blogs to TikTok and YouTube.  Chris provides analysis of who is saying what, and where they get things wrong (or right!).  KUDOS to Chris!!!

Bookmark this Facebook Group: Diabetes Media Reviews

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Empowering Diabetes Advocates: The Impact of the Dedoc Voices Scholarship Program was shared by StartUp Health, 22 July 2024.

Bastian Hauck, the CEO & Founder of Dedoc shares insights about the impactful #dedoc° voices scholarship program, which aims to empower diabetes advocates by providing them with opportunities to attend major scientific conferences. Through personal stories and examples, Hauck illustrates how this program fosters a global community of informed and passionate diabetes advocates who contribute significantly to advancing diabetes care and technology. 

• • • Global Impact: The #dedoc° voices scholarship program has awarded 600 scholarships to over 300 individuals from 70 countries, aiming to bring diabetes advocates to major scientific meetings like the ADA Scientific Sessions.
    • Community and Advocacy: The program encourages scholarship recipients to “pay it forward” by using their knowledge and network to create impactful projects in their home communities.
    • Powerful Voices: The program ensures that the voices of people with diabetes are heard in scientific discussions, emphasizing the importance of lived experiences in advancing diabetes care.
    • Inspiring Stories: Examples include a girl from Uganda who now runs diabetes camps and an advocate from Zimbabwe organizing educational programs for diabetes nurses.
    • Innovative Collaborations: The community has driven significant advancements in diabetes technology, such as DIY insulin pump systems, by addressing gaps left by the industry.

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Geofencing is STILL an ISSUE, with NO WORD from Dexcom, to alert to community or share the interim fixes to safeguard your travels away from your home country, and NO indication of when the problem will be resolved. 

VERY disheartening, from a company that has known and acknowledged this issue for OVER A YEAR, without warning their Dexcom G7 users around the world.  

If this concerns you or you believe Dexcom should, at the very least, communicate the problems and patch fixes to all users, please feel free to contact Dexcom executives.  And if you have experienced any of them failures, please report them to your government regulatory databases.