In the News... Islet cell transplants update, implantable insulin pump moves forward, Olympics monitored GLP-1s and more!

It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: big updates for stem cell and islet transplants, new pen option for Zepbound, an implantable insulin pump moves forward and more!

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Episode transcription with links:

Welcome! I’m your host Stacey Simms and this is an In The News episode.. where we bringing you the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. A reminder that you can find the sources and links and a transcript and more info for every story mentioned here in the show notes.

Quick reminder:

I’m just back from MNO DC and I’m exhausted. But it’s the best kind of tired. We had an incredible time – hope you can join us in Nashville. With a reminder that we have our first Club 1921 in Nashville – that’s our educational dinner series for HCPs and patient leaders.

All the info is over at diabetes-connections.com events/

 

 

Okay.. our top story this week:

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An “immune system reset” eliminated Type 1, diabetes in mice in a study conducted at Stanford Medicine without immune suppressant medications. This was a combined transplant of blood stem cells and insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells from a donor whose immune profile did not match the recipient.

The dual transplant approach both restored insulin production and retrained the immune system. For the full six months of the experiment, the animals did not need insulin injections or immune suppressive medications.

Challenges remain using this approach to treat Type 1 diabetes. Pancreatic islets can be obtained only after death of the donor, and the blood stem cells must come from the same person as the islets. It is also unclear whether the number of islet cells typically isolated from one donor would be enough to reverse established Type 1 diabetes.

But the researchers are working on solutions, which could include generating large numbers of islet cells in the laboratory from pluripotent human stem cells, or finding ways to increase the function and survival of transplanted donor islet cells.

https://scitechdaily.com/stanford-scientists-cure-type-1-diabetes-in-mice-without-insulin-or-immune-suppression/

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An electronic implant interlaced with islet cells is being looked at to treat type 1.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine worked with engineers at Harvard University to combine stem-cell biology with soft electronics.

They inserted an ultrathin, flexible mesh of conductive wires — thinner than a human hair — into developing pancreatic tissue. As the cells assembled into clusters, the mesh became woven through them.

The electronics can record the faint electrical signals produced by the cells that control insulin release. They can also deliver small pulses of electricity back to the cells.

 

After several days, the cells began to behave more like mature islets. Their internal signalling shifted, neighbouring cells started working in concert and insulin release became stronger and better timed.

 Very early on here – and the transplanted cells still need to be protected from being attacked by the immune system.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/first-cyborg-pancreas-implants-type-1-diabetes-nxkv8r0fp?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqeJYYUF9TMR-GgGUG92hPyog-ISeiqGIgdyaaIKKcpvhtoftGiUaaOtQeG0NWI%3D&gaa_ts=699c50d4&gaa_sig=w-PQ0ArosZSznYDSWEzt8aQg4WC0FF5ZFRt9NedO5sSTL2FyWzupH8eSG7RCy2S8TQnlHOeKCudANWm1MNI59w%3D%3D

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Katie Beth (hand) Eledon trial – aaron kowalski post linkedin.

Last fall we told you about promising results from Eledon’s drug to prevent islet transplantation rejection in type 1 diabetes. The first six patients no longer had to inject or infuse insulin.. the trials continue and this month one of the patients – Katie Beth Hand – began posting about her experiences one month in, on social media, she says she’s off basal insulin already and in range 99 percent of the time. She is also encouraging people to learn more about support the islet act

https://lnkd.in/e8pQ7_Y7

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This is a bill introduced last November which would change the wording on pancreatic cell transplants.

The problem is that islets are classified as drugs rather than organs, making transplantations difficult for medical teams and centers to preform due to accessibility.

Insurance companies are also less likely to provide reimbursements for treatment, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The official Journal of The Transplantation Society estimates the cost at about $140,000. The bill went to the senate committee of Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in early November. No other action has been taken since then.

https://www.wtoc.com/2026/02/19/bluffton-family-advocates-islet-act-help-diabetic-son/

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Big change for the obesity drug Zepbound – now available in the multi dose KwikPen. This is a month’s worth of doses in a single pen.. and it’s multi dose – you can adjust it.

Cash-paying patients can get the multi-dose device, called KwikPen, on the company’s direct-to-consumer website, LillyDirect. Prices start at $299 per month for the lowest dose level.

Until now, you could only get zepbound in a single dose auto injector or a sing dose vial.

In a release, Lilly said the Food and Drug Administration approved a label expansion for Zepbound to include the multi-dose device.

The KwikPen is already used for other drugs, such as Lilly’s popular diabetes medication, Mounjaro – which is the same medication as zepbound, they’re both tirzepitide.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/eli-lilly-launches-zepbound-obesity-drug-pen-one-month-doses.html

 

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For years, researchers have observed that people who live at high elevations,  tend to develop diabetes less often than those at sea level. Although the trend was well documented, the biological explanation behind it was unclear.

Scientists now say they have identified the reason. Their research shows that in low oxygen environments, red blood cells begin absorbing large amounts of glucose from the bloodstream.

Their work showed that when oxygen is limited, red blood cells use glucose to generate a molecule that helps release oxygen to tissues. This process becomes especially important when oxygen is in short supply.

The researchers also found that the metabolic benefits of prolonged hypoxia lasted for weeks to months after mice were returned to normal oxygen levels.

They then evaluated HypoxyStat, a drug recently developed in Jain's lab that mimics low oxygen exposure. HypoxyStat is taken as a pill and works by causing hemoglobin in red blood cells to bind oxygen more tightly, limiting the amount delivered to tissues. In mouse models of diabetes, the medication completely reversed high blood sugar and outperformed existing treatments.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260221060952.htm

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Watching this one closely – Portal Diabetes gets FDA breakthrough device designation for its implantable insulin pump system. This is a system that includes not just a device that’s implanted into the abdomen, but also a new, temperature stable insulin. It will work with – quote – “modern” CGM technology with a fully closed loop - and aims to deliver a functional cure for type 1.

While reports say Portal’s system is the first in the US – there was an implantable pump developed and used by about 500 people worldwide, including about 100 in the US – by MiniMed. Medtronic bought the company and in 2007 they stopped that program.

Portal Diabetes expects to begin clinical trials on its combination system around the fourth quarter of 2027.

https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/portal-diabetes-fda-breakthrough-implantable-insulin-pump/

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Sequel Med Tech and Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) today announced the full U.S. launch of their CGM and insulin pump integration.

That’s the eversense cgm and twist pump.

Sequel said its full launch with Eversense 365 makes twiist available with two compatible CGMs. twiist also pairs with the Abbott FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor.

Eversense 365, an implantable system, rests under the skin for the duration of a year. Users can change its external, silicone-based adhesive daily with almost no skin reactions.

https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/sequel-senseonics-full-launch-twiist-eversense/

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Right back with a Dexcom update, and a look at which type of diet reduces insulin use overall.. right after this:

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Back to the news..

Dexcom is watching for expanded Medicare coverage of its continuous glucose monitors to people with Type 2 diabetes who don’t take insulin. CEO Jake Leach told investors on Thursday that the company has been “sitting here waiting for a coverage decision” from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Dexcom started to see commercial coverage unlock for Type 2, non-insulin users toward the end of last year, Leach said. He expects broader Medicare coverage for that group would allow nearly 12 million people to access CGMs.

 

 

In the meantime, the American Diabetes Association updated its guidelines last year to recommend clinicians consider using CGMs for Type 2 diabetes when patients are taking glucose-lowering medications other than insulin. Leach said that real world data the company has been generating supports that decision, and that Dexcom has launched a registry for non-insulin users.

https://www.medtechdive.com/news/dexcom-seeks-expanded-medicare-coverage-of-cgms-for-type-2-diabetes/812223/

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Medtronic’s separation of MiniMed is not yet complete.. but continues to move forward. The company has submitted their next pump – MiniMed Flex – to the FDA. This is a pump smaller than the 780G but uses the same reservoirs and infusion sets. It will also work with both the Simplera Sync and Instinct sensors.

Medtronic also began a U.S. pivotal study for Vivera, its third-generation algorithm for automated insulin delivery. It also remains set to submit its MiniMed Fit patch pump system to the FDA by the coming fall.

https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/medtronic-submits-minimed-flex-fda-q3/

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A study modelling how genes may influence a child's body mass index over time has found that BMI at age 10 and overall growth rate between ages one and 18 might be important factors, as the two are more likely linked to diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease in later life.

Nearly 66,000 BMI measurements from around 6,300 children and adolescents aged one to 18 were analysed to understand the role of genes.

 

 

"Future research is needed to help identify the most effective ages to prevent obesity or poor growth for long-term benefit."

https://www.ndtv.com/health/bmi-at-age-10-growth-rate-up-to-age-18-are-important-factors-for-diabetes-heart-disease-study-11125146

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A low-fat vegan diet—without cutting calories or carbs—may help people with type 1 diabetes significantly reduce how much insulin they need. In a new analysis published in BMC Nutrition, participants following the plant-based plan lowered their daily insulin use by 28%, while those on a portion-controlled diet saw no meaningful change.

Researchers say the reduced insulin requirement likely reflects improved insulin sensitivity.

The original 2024 study reported additional benefits from the vegan diet. Participants lost an average of 11 pounds and showed improvements in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Cholesterol levels and kidney function also improved among those following the plant-based plan.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234212.htm

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Interesting little tidbit from the Winter Olympic Games.. the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was monitoring GLP drug use.

An advisory group that makes recommendations about WADA's list of prohibited substances discussed the status of GLP-1 medications, and added semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) to its monitoring program

That means patterns of use of these drugs will be tracked both in and out of competition.  The finding will be used to make recommendations about whether GLP-1 agonists should be added to the prohibited list, the spokesperson explained.

While GLP-1 drug use is not currently prohibited, that could change before the next Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, he noted.

https://www.medpagetoday.com/popmedicine/cultureclinic/119770

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That’s it for in the news!