In the News.. Defining T1D stages, InsuJet approval, T2D dementia risk and more!

It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: A push to change the defined stages of T1D, InsuJet is approved in Canada, new study linked T2D and dementia, new drug looked at to prevent hypoglycemia, big honors for a T1D author and more!

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Episode transcription with links:

 

 

Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I’m Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now.

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The understanding of type 1 has changed a lot in the last 10-15 years, specifically with the definition of stages of the disease. Now some researchers suggest the current 2015 model is ready for another update.

University of Florida Health diabetes researchers and collaborators last week issued a call to action in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, urging the development of a more precise method of calculating type 1 diabetes risk.

Under the current staging system, this is Stage 1 of the disease, when a patient does not yet have elevated blood sugar but has two or more of these autoantibodies in the blood.

Stage 2 is diagnosed when blood sugar begins to rise, indicating a dysfunctional pancreas in a patient who does not yet have clinical type 1 diabetes. That comes in Stage 3 with high blood sugar and, eventually, the classic symptoms of the disease, including frequent urination, weight loss and fatigue.

Jacobsen, however, said the staging system requires more precision. This is especially important as the current staging model determines if a patient is eligible to receive a drug therapy called teplizumab, the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes by an average of two years.

The staging system, however, does not include a patient’s age and these researchers say additional markers that would be important to consider include a greater array of abnormal metabolic measures beyond blood sugar and the presence of more autoantibodies.

 

https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/healthcare/2024/12/04/uf-health-scientists-propose-update-to-type-1-diabetes-staging-system/76734459007/

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A product called InsuJet gets approval in Canada. Made by NuGen Medical Devices, InsuJet™ is a needle-free injection system. It’s already approved for sale in 42 countries – not yet the US.

Their website says InsuJet’s jet-injected fluid penetrates the skin through a small orifice of a special nozzle, creating a thin, high pressure stream. This way, insulin doesn’t remain around the place of injection, like it does with a needle. Instead, with InsuJet, the insulin is deposited into the subcutaneous tissue where it’s easily absorbed and acts faster– saving you money, time, and discomfort.

 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nugen-announces-canada-wide-launch-221500674.html

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Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 50 may be at a higher risk of developing dementia later in life.

A study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, says the risk is notably greater among adults with obesity.

Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia. Although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, scientists think that some of the hallmarks of diabetes—such as high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and inflammation—may encourage the development of dementia in the brain.

 

 

The researchers note that this greater understanding of the connection between diabetes onset, obesity, and dementia may help inform targeted interventions to prevent dementia.

https://scitechdaily.com/diagnosed-young-with-diabetes-your-dementia-risk-may-be-higher/

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Embecta is out of the insulin patch pump business – just months after getting the ok from the FDA.

Embecta received FDA clearance for its insulin patch pump in September. The device is indicated for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and includes a 300-unit insulin reservoir to support people with higher daily insulin needs.

However, the version Embecta received clearance for was an open-loop patch pump, where users manually control insulin delivery, while the firm’s goal was to develop a closed-loop version, which automatically delivers insulin when needed.

The CEO also expects competition in closed-loop devices for people with Type 2 diabetes to intensify, with Insulet receiving FDA clearance for its Omnipod 5 patch pump for Type 2 diabetes in August.

https://www.medtechdive.com/news/embecta-discontinue-patch-pump/734059/

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Sanofi invests in a company developing a new drug to prevent hypoglycemia. We reported on Zucara Therapeutics back in 2022 and they’ve been moving ahead with ZT-01.

ZT-01 is a medication being developed to help prevent dangerous low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) by fixing how the body normally fights it. In people without diabetes, a hormone called glucagon is released to raise blood sugar when it gets too low. But in people with insulin-dependent diabetes, like type 1 diabetes or some forms of type 2 diabetes, this process doesn’t work well because another hormone, somatostatin (SST), blocks glucagon from being released.

ZT-01 works by blocking the effects of somatostatin, allowing the body to release more glucagon when it’s needed. This could help people with diabetes avoid severe low blood sugar episodes.

 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zucara-therapeutics-announces-strategic-investment-from-sanofi-as-part-of-us20-million-series-b-financing-302301820.html

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Omnipod 5 is now compatible with the FreeStyle Libre 2 plus. The company says the recent development “ makes Omnipod 5 the most connected tubeless AID system in the U.S.”

It’s already compatible with Dexcom’s G6 and G7 CGMs.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120268759/en/Insulet-Announces-Omnipod%C2%AE-5-System-is-Now-Compatible-with-Abbott%E2%80%99s-FreeStyle-Libre-2-Plus-Sensor-in-the-U.S.

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A new study involving 11 clinical centers across the United States aims to uncover how type 1 diabetes (T1D) impacts brain health and cognitive function in children.

Led by the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, this is a five-year study to explore critical questions about how environmental, lifestyle, social and clinical factors affect brain development during childhood — a period crucial for cognitive growth.

https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/new-study-to-explore-impact-of-type-1-diabetes-on-children-s-brain-development

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Dexcom looking to partner with smart ring company Oura. Originally launched to track sleep patterns, the latest Oura technology collects more than 20 biometrics ranging from heart rate and activity metrics to sleep and body temperature monitoring.

The companies say the new partnership is intended to provide users with seamless integration between the two ecosystems so shared users can track their glucose levels and understand the impact of behaviors and biology on their metabolic health.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2024/11/29/smart-ring-maker-oura-hits-5-billion-in-valuation--strikes-major-partnership-with-dexcom/

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WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Taking even high doses of supplementary vitamin D won't lower an older person's odds for type 2 diabetes, new research confirms.

They published their findings Dec. 2 in the journal Diabetologia.

The new research followed on data from other studies that had suggested that people with especially low levels of vitamin D might face a higher risk for diabetes. That was true for people who were already prediabetic, especially.

To find out, researchers led by Jirki Vyrtanen, from the University of Eastern Finland, randomly assigned nearly 2,300 people aged 60 or older to receive either placebo pills or 40 or 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 supplements per day, for five years. 

At the end of the five years, "105 participants developed type 2 diabetes: 38 in the placebo group, 31 in the group receiving 40 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day, and 36 in the group receiving 80 micrograms of vitamin D3 per day," according to a university news release.

In other words, there were no significant differences in the rate at which people developed type 2 diabetes, regardless of how much supplemental vitamin D they took.

Vytanen's team also saw no benefit from high-dose supplements on a person's blood sugar or insulin levels, or measures of overweight/obesity.

The bottom line, according to the researchers: For any healthy, non-prediabetic person with healthy vitamin D levels, upping intake of the vitamin won't alter your odds for diabetes or its common risk factors.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-04/high-dose-vitamin-d-supplements-wont-prevent-diabetes-in-healthy-seniors

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Big congrats to author Clare Edge – recent guest on the podcast. Her book, Accidental Demons is featured on People Magazine’s top ten book gift suggestions for this year!

Whether you’re looking for books about winter and the holidays, a primer on some of this year’s buzziest musicians and characters or that "one more chapter" kind of bedtime favorite, there’s sure to be a book out there to suit their taste.

Bernadette Crowley, also known as Ber, comes from a long line of witches. When Ber is diagnosed with diabetes, however, she learns that every time she tests her blood sugar, demons accidentally slip into the human dimension — and it’s up to Ber and her sister, Maeve, to stop them. This fantastical book is a great escape for young readers over holiday break.

Buy Now

Top ten books

https://people.com/kids-gift-book-suggestions-wicked-taylor-swift-books-8752097