In the News.. Islet cell implant update, BG check with radio waves, preschool T1D detection & more!

It’s in the news! The top stories and headlines around the diabetes community this week include: A new way to sneak islet cells into the body without needing immunosuppressive drugs, routinely checking young children for T1D markets before symptoms show up, a non invasive way to measure blood glucose uses Radio Frequency, a DIY movement publishes in the New England Journal of Medicine and more!

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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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French biopharma company Adocia has established a first proof of concept for its AdoShell Islets implant. This was in rats.. but they achieved glycemic control without insulin injections and without immunosuppressive drugs for four months.
AdoShell Islets is an immuno-protective synthetic biomaterial that secrets insulin in response to blood glucose levels. The physical barrier formed by the AdoShell biomaterial allows the implanted cells to be invisible to the host’s immune system while allowing the necessary physiological exchanges to occur for the survival and function of the islets.
These researchers are optimistic that their unique approach can be translated from one species to another.
https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/adocia-implants-diabetes/
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Can starting a closed loop system right away help keep kids with type 1 in the honeymoon stage longer? New study says.. probably not.
The latest findings are from the Closed Loop From Onset in Type 1 Diabetes (CLOuD) trial, a multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, randomized study, published online September 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine by Charlotte K. Boughton, PhD, and colleagues.
In CLOuD, 97 youths aged 10-17 years were randomized to hybrid closed-loop therapy or standard insulin therapy (control) within 21 days of type 1 diabetes diagnosis. I found this a bit confusing, in the standard insulin therapy groups, participants could switch to insulin pump therapy or use flash or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) or approved closed-loop systems if clinically indicated. So this isn’t comparing an AID system to MDI.
At 12 months, there were no differences after a mixed-meal tolerance test, with levels declining in both groups and dropping further by 24 months. Interestingly, they said glycemic control didn’t differ significantly between the two groups.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/980356
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Moving closer to a non-invasive way to measure blood glucose. The GlucoRx BioXensor uses radio frequency technology alongside a multiple sensor approach to measure blood glucose levels every minute. This looks to be about the size of a Libre 3 or Dexcom G7..
It’s said to have smart alarms and remote monitoring capability and just sticks on the skin. The MARD is 10 point 4, which is less accurate than CGMs on the market now, but much better than any other noninvasive device to make it this far. In addition to measuring blood glucose the makers say it can measure oxygen levels, ECG, respiration rate, heart rate, temperature, activity, sleep, and early fall detection.
Pivotal clinical study later this year and then the say they’ll submit for European approval.
https://www.med-technews.com/news/latest-medtech-news/glucorx-and-cardiff-university-to-bring-out-non-invasive-con/
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RESEARCHERS in Oxford have launched the first UK study in the general population to test for early markers of type 1 diabetes, before children develop symptoms or need insulin. They’re offering a finger stick test when children have their pre-school vaccination. Very small start, only 60 kids, but these researchers say with a recent, more accurate test to check for markers early on, they hope to find more children before DKA sets in.
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20977659.oxford-scientists-launch-study-early-markers-type-1-diabetes-children/
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The first Randomized Controlled Trial on open source automated insulin delivery (AID) is now published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. Big news for and from the we are not waiting crowd.
The CREATE Trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of an open-source system using the OpenAPS algorithm in a modified version of AndroidAPS. This study included children and adults and found that across all ages, time in range was 14 percent higher than those who used commercial hybrid closed loop systems. There’s more to it, and I”ll link it up, but this study concluded that a widely used open-source AID solution, works and is safe. Congrats to Dana Lewis and all the researchers involved.
https://diyps.org/2022/09/07/nejm-publishes-rct-on-open-source-automated-insulin-delivery-openaps-algorithm-in-androidaps-in-the-create-trial/
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Back to the news in a moment but first..
The T1D Exchange Registry is a research study conducted online over time, designed to foster innovation and improve the lives of people with T1D. The platform is open to both adults and children with T1D living in the U.S. 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. The registry aims to improve knowledge of T1D, accelerate the discovery and development of new treatments and technologies, and generate evidence to support policy or insurance changes that help the T1D community. By sharing opinions, experiences and data, patients can help advance meaningful T1D treatment, care and policy.
The registry is now available on the T1D Exchange website and is simple to navigate, mobile and user-friendly. For more information or to register, go to www.t1dregistry.org/stacey
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Medtronic is waiting for FDA clearing of the new 780G.. already approved in Europe. New study results published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Medtronic announced Thursday put the AID pump up against multiple daily injections plus CGM. Small study, 82 people, all with an A1C over 8. After using the 780G for six months, the group saw a reduction of 1.4 percent in their levels with a quarter of that group dropping their A1C below 7. None of the MDI group dropped to that level. Time in range saw most improvement overnight.
The MiniMed 780G system has been cleared in Europe since 2020. Medtronic submitted it to the FDA for U.S. approval in the spring of 2021 but is still awaiting a decision, slowed down by the roadblocks caused by a late 2021 warning letter from the agency that called out quality control issues at the California headquarters of its diabetes business.
https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/medtronics-new-minimed-insulin-pump-adds-27-boost-time-range-study-finds
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Change at one of the top posts at Dexcom. Jake Leach moves from Chief Technology Officer to Chief operating officer. He’s been at the company since 2004 to work on the first commercial Dexcom CGM system. He’s been a frequent guest of the show and we hope that continues.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220831005236/en/DexCom-Promotes-Jake-Leach-to-Chief-Operating-Officer
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Next week we’re looking ahead to the New York City Marthong. Beyond Type 1 puts together a gret team each year and I’m taking to one of the runners. He’s also nabbed a spot in the world series of poker – which do you think is tougher on his type 1 diabetes? This past episode is all about Omnipod 5 – a panel of people who’ve sued it for a few weeks now.. and the director of medical affairs to answer your questions.
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That’s In the News for this week.. if you like it, please share it! Thanks for joining me! See you back here soon.