In the News... Abbott Libre reader recall, Medicare CGM coverage expands, T1D young adult study and more!

It’s In the News, a look at the top stories and headlines from the diabetes community happening now. Top stories this week: Abbott recalls Freestyle Libre readers (not the sensors, see below for more information), Medicare expands CGM coverage for  more people with type 2, a new study looks at the transition for children with T1D to adults and why patients aren't being served well during that time, and much 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 happening now
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In the news is brought to you by Athletic Greens AG1 by Athletic Greens is daily nutrition made really simple.
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If you’ve got an Abbott Libre reader – check it for a huge recall. The company is issuing a class one – that’s the most serious -recall of all readers distributed in the U.S. from November 2017 to February 2023, totaling more than 4 million devices.

The recall is due to the potential overheating, sparking, or fire that may occur when the readers are charged with non-Abbott adapters or USB cables, or when they are damaged or exposed to liquids. Abbott-provided USB cables and power adapters limit the current to safely charge the battery, whereas third-party cables and adapters may allow much higher power, increasing the risk of fire.

Abbott has reported 206 incidents related to this issue, including at least seven fires and one injury, but no deaths. I’ve got the phone number to call and more information in the show notes at d-c dot com.
This recall only applies to those using the external reader device, not those using their smartphone.
Contact Information
Users with questions about this recall should contact Abbott Customer Service at 1-855-632-8658, available 7 days a week from 8AM to 8PM Eastern Time, excluding major holidays.

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/abbott-recalls-readers-used-freestyle-libre-freestyle-libre-14-day-and-freestyle-libre-2-flash
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A big policy change coming next week - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will expand continuous glucose monitor coverage to more people with type 2 diabetes. That starts April 16th, this Sunday if you’re listening as the episode first drops.
The expanded coverage applies to people using a basal only routine, as well as others who have a history of what has been classified as “problematic hypoglycemia.” Bottom line for those with type 2 – check with your doctor to see if a CGM is now covered
October.https://diatribe.org/medicare-expands-cgm-continuous-glucose-monitor-coverage-type-2-diabetes

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Montana lawmakers are considering a bill that would require insurance companies to cover CGMs for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
House Bill 758 has broad support from lawmakers, but it faces opposition from insurance companies and some providers. That opposition focuses on the cost, whether a CGM is medically necessary at all stages of diabetes, and the possibility that CGM manufacturers will raise their prices if there is an insurance mandate.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, the state’s largest insurer, estimates the bill, if passed, would cost the organization nearly $5 million a year. The BCBS spokesperson also says ““These things are a convenience,”

https://khn.org/news/article/montana-potential-bill-insurance-covering-continuous-glucose-monitor/
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Short-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with an increased risk for heart failure hospitalization among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a Danish registry study.

Among over 300,000 patients with T2D, short-term use of NSAIDs was associated with a relative 43% increased risk of a first-time heart failure hospitalization in the subsequent 28 days. NSAIDs increased the risk of heart failure even more in type 2 diabetics who were 80 or older (78%) or who had high blood sugar levels (68%), the results showed. Those who'd never used an NSAID before had the worst reaction, with their heart failure risk nearly tripling. However, heart failure was not associated with using NSAIDs in people with well-controlled diabetes and normal blood sugar levels.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/cardiology/chf/103936
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New study from Boston Children’s Hospital shows the transition from child to young adult managing type 1 is a pretty fraught time.
routine outpatient care for type 1 diabetes decreased between ages 16 and 24. At the same time, emergency room visits to treat the condition increased for that age group.

The study raises the concern that young adults lack a “medical home” with an endocrinologist and instead may be seeking routine care such as insulin prescription refills from an emergency department (ED), Garvey says. If anything, the research supports the idea that endocrinologists should have an integral role in diabetes management for young adults, she says, and illustrates how specialized care may prevent the need for acute care in hospitals.
The data here showed that annual endocrinologist visits declined from 2.3 per year at age 16 to 1.5 per year by age 24. This data stands out, Garvey says, because previous research has shown endocrinologists are the main providers of type 1 diabetes care for most young adults with the condition.
These researchers hope the study can serve as a launching point for endocrinologists to assess how they can help young adults better manage type 1 diabetes
https://answers.childrenshospital.org/self-care-of-diabetes/
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The past few years have seen numerous advances in the understanding of how type 1 diabetes develops and how to manage it, yet the global disease burden remains high, according to a review article published April 5 in The Lancet.
The authors cite data related to diabetes control in youth and adults from the T1D Exchange demonstrating that only 21% of adults with type 1 diabetes have an A1c (a blood test that reflects a 90-day sugar average) of 7.0 or lower.
While type 1 diabetes is the third most common disease of childhood, there should be greater awareness of adult onset of the disease. The paper references data from the UK Biobank indicating that up to 40% of type 1 diabetes diagnoses occur in people over age 30.
, the paper notes that racial and ethnic disparities persist and insulin pump usage is lowest at 18% among non-Latinx Black populations compared with 72% among non-Hispanic white people and 40% among Hispanic populations.
The paper also reports that inhaled insulin – brand name Afrezza - has demonstrated a fast onset of action, improving the ability to control glucose after meals.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-global-diabetes-burden-high-advances.html
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A research team led by the University of Michigan Health Department of Neurology followed more than 120 patients who underwent bariatric surgery for obesity over two years after the procedure. They found that all metabolic risk factors for developing diabetes, such as high glucose and lipid levels, improved outside of blood pressure and total cholesterol, according to results published in Diabetologia.

Investigators also found that patients two years removed from bariatric surgery showed improvements in peripheral neuropathy, a condition marked by damage to the nerves that go from the spinal cord all the way to the hands and feet.
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Obesity is the second leading risk factor for peripheral neuropathy after diabetes, which affects more than 30 million Americans.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-bariatric-surgery-reverse-diabetes-complications.html
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Athletic Greens
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As of April 12, 2023, Panbela Therapeutics has officially begun their Phase II double-blind, randomized study to assess the effectiveness and safety of CPP-1X-T for recent onset type 1 diabetes (T1D). The study will involve enrolling 70 patients across six different centers in the United States, with Indiana University leading the trial. The first patient has already been enrolled, which has led to a boost in the company’s stock prices.

Panbela Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing innovative therapies for cancer patients and those with other urgent medical needs. They have recently completed a clinical trial of ivospemin, a treatment for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The company also acquired Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals in June 2022, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing therapies to prevent cancer and rare diseases.

CPP-1X-T is one of the drugs that Panbela Therapeutics is currently developing. This drug has shown potential complementary activity with the FDA-approved treatment for pancreatic cancer and is being evaluated for the treatment of T1D in the Phase II clinical trial. The company’s shares have been fluctuating in recent months due to various factors, including the progress and results of their clinical trials.

https://beststocks.com/panbela-therapeutics-begins-phase-ii-clinical/

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On the podcast next week.. Jisel Parra was diagnosed as a teenager and it couldn’t have gone worse – they didn’t prescribe insulin initially, she struggled with getting the right and with her mental health.. but now she makes medical jewelry and tags with her company A Tad Too Sweet. I’m excited for you to hear her story. Last week, Dr. Bryce Nelson on Tzield.
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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.