Taking a 7.5 mg dose of oral insulin every day doesn’t seem to be effective in delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes. A recent study followed a group of people who all tested positive for microinsulin antibodies and had a relative who’d been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Half the study participants took the […]
A biosimilar is a biological product defined as being comparable (but not identical) to an already FDA-approved biological product, in molecular structure, safety, and effectiveness. Because they are not identical to the reference product, they differ from generic drugs, which have identical molecular structures and active ingredients to those of the brand name products. The […]
Insulin resistance, which occurs when the body’s cells are no longer able to respond to insulin, is a major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. For people with insulin resistance, blood glucose levels can become too high, which over time can contribute to the development of type 2. Currently, medications such as thiazolidinediones are […]
It’s been shown that maintaining low glucose levels after meals can slow the progression of diabetes-associated complications. Researchers have been looking at ways to create an ultrafast insulin that is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and can rapidly affect glucose levels. This way, the patient can take insulin after meals and quickly get post-meal glucose […]
Participants with type 1 diabetes in a 12-week clinical trial showed significant improvements in two important health measures. Their HbA1c decreased and the amount of time they spent in hypoglycemia was reduced. The artificial pancreas system consists of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor, surgically placed under a patient’s skin, and is designed to […]
Johnson & Johnson has decided to discontinue its insulin pump products. The Animas, Animas Vibe, and OneTouch Ping pumps will no longer be available. The company announced it has partnered with Medtronic to transition its existing customers to Medtronic’s pump line. Johnson & Johnson representatives have said the decision to shut down the pump division […]
The V-Go insulin patch offers people with diabetes an alternative to insulin injections. After you load the patch with insulin, it is applied to the arm, leg or abdomen, much like a Band-Aid. There’s a tiny needle inside the patch. With a push of a button, the needle goes into the skin. It delivers a […]
The FDA has approved the Libre Flash System for sale to adults in the U.S. It’s the first continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that does not require fingersticks in order to check glucose levels. It’s already been approved in multiple other countries. It uses small sensor wire inserted below the skin’s surface that continuously measures and […]
International organization Insulin for Life works to provide people with diabetes in need of assistance with life-saving insulin. It works with disadvantaged people with diabetes, and with victims of natural disasters, worldwide. Recently it has been helping victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Read more
New research shows that women with type 1 diabetes who used continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) during pregnancy had significantly better health outcomes, for both themselves and their babies. Women with type 1 are at higher risk of complications including premature birth, stillbirth, high birth weights, pre-eclampsia and cesarean section for mothers. Read more
Medtronic, a maker of medical devices, announced on Sept. 11 it would recall certain infusion sets used with its insulin pumps Infusion sets help connect insulin pumps to the body. According to Medtronic, a vent membrane in some of the infusion sets could be blocked by fluid during the process of priming, or removal of […]
A study evaluated elderly participants before and after four follow-up telephone support calls for insulin administration, and determined that the phone calls helped improve the patients’ insulin knowledge. In a second study one group of patients were met face to face for 2 months and also received 4 follow-up telephone calls by a healthcare professional, […]
A new study casts doubt on whether regular home blood sugar monitoring is really helpful for many patients. The study divided patients with type 2 into two groups, one of which monitored blood sugar closely; the other did not. After one year the researchers found that the patients who self-monitored did not have improved blood […]
A new “smart” insulin patch may make blood glucose monitoring more accurate and less painful. The patch, worn on the skin, would automatically deliver insulin as needed. It’s under development at The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University. Read more
Nevada is considering legislation that would track the profits pharmaceutical companies make on sales of insulin. It’s a move hailed by many patients with diabetes – yet patient advocacy groups have had little to say on the subject. Read more
It looks like Apple’s attempt to integrate glucose-tracking technology into the Apple Watch may be getting closer to reality. CEO Tim Cook appears to be personally testing the device, which could make staying on top of blood sugar levels much easier for many diabetes patients. Read more
Diabetes is widespread in the U.S. More than eight million Americans have the disease, and treatment costs each year exceed $320 billion. A new program in San Diego using innovative strategies to improve health and reduce the cost of diabetes by encouraging better self-management of the disease. Read more
Diabetes patients who receive immediate feedback on their A1C levels are better able to improve their glycemic control, which in turn reduces their risk of developing long term complications associated with diabetes. A decade long study entitled the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), conducted from 1982 to 1993, tested the hypothesis whether complications associated […]
Researchers have demonstrated a new system in which a smartphone is used to tell engineered cells implanted in diabetic mice to produce insulin. The closed-loop system uses a digital glucometer to transmit data on the rodents’ blood glucose levels to a smartphone. The smartphone processes the data and then signals the implanted cells to deliver insulin. […]
Many life sciences companies have tried to develop sensors that can monitor blood sugar without drawing blood, but so far none has succeeded. Now, Silicon Valley is taking on the challenge, with Apple looking to solve the problem. The company has a team of about 30 people in an office in Palo Alto working on a project […]