Episodes

  • In the News: Sernova transplant update, at-home T1D test moves forward, best diet for T2D, Mattel releases type 1 barbie and more!

    In the News: Sernova transplant update, at-home T1D test moves forward, best diet for T2D, Mattel releases type 1 barbie and more!
    Jul 18 2025
    It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: Sernova has a new partner and a new drug for cell transplants, at home glucose/T1D test research, study looks at best diet for people with type 2, Lifescan files for banktrupcy, T1D Barbie and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out Read Hangy Woman's take on Barbie (and send me yours!) Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription with links: In the News July 18 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. XX Sernova is partnering with Eledon Pharmaceuticals to test a new immunosuppressive drug in its ongoing clinical trial for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The drug called tegoprubart is designed to protect transplanted islet cells without harsh side effects. The current treatment is known for its potential toxicity, especially towards insulin-producing beta cells, and its adverse side effects, making it less than ideal for islet cell therapy in T1D. Tegoprubart has already shown promise in earlier trials, helping T1D patients achieve insulin independence with better graft survival and fewer side effects. This next phase of Sernova’s trial (Cohort C) will combine Eledon’s drug with Sernova’s Cell Pouch, an implantable device that houses insulin-producing cells. In earlier phases, six participants stopped needing insulin completely, with results lasting years. Sernova also plans to use stem cell-derived islet-like clusters from partner Evotec to create a next-gen therapy. If all goes well, a new clinical program could launch in 2026. https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2025/07/15/biotech-partnership-to-revolutionize-diabetes-treatment.html XX Researchers at Yale School of Medicine, funded by Breakthrough T1D, are evaluating GTT@home, a new finger-prick, at-home glucose tolerance test, to monitor early-stage type 1 diabetes (T1D) in individuals with T1D autoantibodies. Developed by Digostics (Dih-jos-tiks), the test offers a simpler, less invasive alternative to clinic-based oral glucose tolerance tests. The study aims to assess its accuracy, usability, and acceptance, potentially paving the way for wider use in early T1D detection and monitoring. The results of the trial will inform future regulatory submissions for GTT@home use in T1D, which already has regulatory approval in the UK, Europe and other regions for other types of diabetes. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/digostics-announces-university-trial-home-164300142.html XX LifeScan announced that it entered into a restructuring support agreement and, to implement it, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. As the process moves forward, LifeScan plans to operate in the ordinary course of business. It expects to emerge from chapter 11 by the end of the year. LifeScan develops the OneTouch Bluetooth-connected blood glucose meter and mobile diabetes app that provide simplicity, accuracy and trust in diabetes management. XX New study looks at quality of life and cost of AID systems. This was done in Finland which has the highest prevalence of T1D in the world. The results show automated insulin delivery pumps significantly improved quality of life and reduced diabetes-related complications. The quality-adjusted life expectancy increased by an average of 2.3 years for individuals using an automated insulin delivery pump. Although the overall costs of automated insulin delivery pump treatment were higher than those of conventional insulin pump treatment, its cost-effectiveness ratio was well below the generally accepted willingness-to-pay threshold of 50,000 euros in Finland. This is the first cost-effectiveness study of automated insulin delivery pumps conducted in Finland. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-automated-insulin-delivery-effective-treatment.html XX Blue Circle Health expands into the 11th state: Louisiana! This is Free, comprehensive virtual clinical care, education, and support program for adults with type 1 diabetes In addition to serving adults with type 1 diabetes in Louisiana, our program is also active in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, ...
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    8 mins
  • “I love to change people’s minds” - My son, Benny, on 18+ years of T1D

    “I love to change people’s minds” - My son, Benny, on 18+ years of T1D
    Jul 15 2025

    Benny’s back! My son – diagnosed with type 1 at age 2 and now 20 years old – joins me to talk about what’s new in his diabetes management. He’s made some big changes, including using U-200 insulin and just starting on a GLP-1. We’ll talk about what led to those decisions and the effects they’ve had. We’ll have an update on the Follow situation, Benny’s experience training as an EMT, and how he’s feeling after 18 years of type 1. Spoiler: if I could bottle how relaxed & confident this kid is, I would really have something.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Previous episodes with Benny here

    Join us at an upcoming Moms' Night Out event!

    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

    Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com)

    Omnipod - Simplify Life

    Learn about Dexcom

    Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:

    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:

    Facebook (Group)

    Facebook (Page)

    Instagram

    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

    Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.
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    50 mins
  • It’s Personal: Why this Pediatric Endo is making the case for T1D screening

    It’s Personal: Why this Pediatric Endo is making the case for T1D screening
    Jul 8 2025

    Screening has moved front and center in the conversation around type 1 diabetes. But we’re just at the very beginning of this – what do we really need to know? I’m talking to Dr. Shara Bialo – she’s a pediatric endocrinologist who lives with type 1. She was diagnosed as a kid while in DKA. She’s working with Sanofi to push for screening, but this is personal – we talk about wanting better guidelines, and more mental health support. And how do we move this research into the general population, where it can have the greatest impact?

    More about screening here

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Previous episodes with Ben Mar here

    Join us at an upcoming Moms' Night Out event!

    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

    Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com)

    Omnipod - Simplify Life

    Learn about Dexcom

    Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:

    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:

    Facebook (Group)

    Facebook (Page)

    Instagram

    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

    Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.
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    38 mins
  • What’s ahead for Tandem Diabetes? An update on pumps, CGMs, infusion sets, and more!

    What’s ahead for Tandem Diabetes? An update on pumps, CGMs, infusion sets, and more!
    Jul 1 2025

    This week on Diabetes Connections, Tandem Diabetes made some big announcements at the recent ADA Conference – we’re going behind the headlines and asking your questions about Control IQ updates, extended wear infusion sets, what’s happening with their patch pumps, and a lot more. I’m talking to Ben Mar the Director of Product marketing. We also getting into their expanded partnership with Abbott – in additional to the Libre 3 plus, they’re one of the pump companies that has signed on for the future glucose/ketone sensor. A lot to get to here!

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Previous episodes with Ben Mar here

    Join us at an upcoming Moms' Night Out event!

    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

    Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com)

    Omnipod - Simplify Life

    Learn about Dexcom

    Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:

    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:

    Facebook (Group)

    Facebook (Page)

    Instagram

    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

    Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.
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    40 mins
  • In the News...Top Stories from ADA and more!

    In the News...Top Stories from ADA and more!
    Jun 27 2025
    It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: loads of news from American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, GLP1 for T1D, Tech updates, diabetes in space, and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com 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. XX Top story – looking back at The American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions conference. I won’t recap everything here – but I’ll link up to a few more comprehensive article. Here’s just a taste! XX A single infusion of a new stem cell-based treatment helped 10 out of 12 people with severe type 1 diabetes stop using insulin, researchers report. The treatment, called zimislecel, was made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. It’s an infusion of lab-grown islet cells. A year after getting the therapy, 10 patients no longer needed insulin shots. The other two were able to reduce how much insulin they needed. The treatment requires patients to take immunosuppressive drugs, which may raise the risk of infections or cancer in the long run, experts said. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-06-24/stem-cell-treatment-may-free-some-with-type-1-diabetes-from-insulin XX New study shows inhaled insulin is safe and effective for children with type 1 diabetes. This is Mannkind’s Afrezza, which takes the place of rapid-acting mealtime insulin. Findings indicate that inhaled insulin delivers glycemic control comparable to injected rapid-acting insulin. Inhaled insulin was also associated with less weight gain and slightly higher patient and parent preference scores. These findings add to outcomes shared from INHALE 1 late last year. Based on the findings of the inhaled insulin study, MannKind looks to seek FDA approval to expand Afrezza’s indication to children. The company also aims to evaluate inhaled insulin at diagnosis and in automated insulin delivery systems in additional studies. https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/study-mannkind-inhaled-insulin-safe-effective-children/ XX Positive outcomes in two different studies looking at GLP 1 medications for type 1. Semaglutide – brand name Ozempic or Wegovy - reduced glucose levels and weight among patients with type 1 diabetes and obesity. 26-week, double-blind trial of 72 adults, those taking Ozempic spent More than 70% time spent in sensor glucose range (70-180 mg/dL) Less than 4% time spent in hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) At least 5% body weight reduction Although none of the GLP-1 receptor agonists are approved for type 1 diabetes -- largely due to safety concerns about hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis -- Shah pointed to real-world dataopens in a new tab or window that showed increasing off-label use in this population. Half of the patients in the semaglutide group achieved an HbA1c level below 7% at 26 weeks compared with 22.2% of those in the placebo group. Semaglutide patients also had greater weight loss (least-squares mean group difference -8.8 kg [19.4 lb]). As for adverse events of special interest for a type 1 diabetes population, rates of severe hypoglycemia were low (5.5% vs 5.5%) and no cases of diabetic ketoacidosis occurred. https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/ada/116206 XX Tirzepatide – brand name Monjourno or Zepbound has demonstrated promising safety and efficacy in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in new data from a longitudinal, retrospective study.1 after 3 months, participants experienced a significant 6.7 kg reduction in mean weight (95% CI, 5.4-8.0 kg; P <.001; n = 36) and were able to reduce mean total daily insulin dose by 21.6 units (95% CI, 12.8-30.4; P <.001; n = 28), mostly driven by reduction in bolus doses (95% CI, 14.4 units; 6.6-22.2; P = .001; n=26.) Furthermore, time in range (70-180 mg/dl) also significantly increased from 54.9% to 60.8% (95% CI, 0.0-11.8; P = .048l; n = 36).1 “In people with T1D and obesity, there's quite a lot of off label GLP-1 agonist use and tirzepatide, as a proportion of that, is increasing,” Berry told HCPLive. “People found it really ...
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    8 mins
  • Still Not Waiting: Lane Desborough's Bold New Push with Nudge

    Still Not Waiting: Lane Desborough's Bold New Push with Nudge
    Jun 24 2025

    This week on Diabetes Connections, “We are not waiting” became more than just a slogan — it sparked a movement. Back when the diabetes community was fed up with slow progress, DIYers stepped in with solutions that actually worked better than what companies were offering. That rallying cry? It came from Lane Desborough in 2013. And more than a decade later, he’s still challenging the status quo.
    We’re catching up with Lane to talk about his latest project, Nudge — much more than just another insulin pump algorithm, it’s an innovation to create more open and accessible systems

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    Join us at an upcoming Moms' Night Out event!

    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

    Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com)

    Omnipod - Simplify Life

    Learn about Dexcom

    Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:

    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:

    Facebook (Group)

    Facebook (Page)

    Instagram

    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

    Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.
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    1 hr
  • Cloak the Poke: A New Way to Make Shots Less Scary

    Cloak the Poke: A New Way to Make Shots Less Scary
    Jun 17 2025

    As we gear up for ADA Scientific Sessions and get ready to hear studies and reports from the big diabetes companies, I’ve decided to highlight something on the other end of the spectrum. College students, seeing a need and developing a solution. Cloak The Poke is all about addressing fear of needles, especially in kids. We’ll explain how it works, more about the team behind it, and their big goals going forward.

    This podcast is not intended as medical advice. If you have those kinds of questions, please contact your health care provider.

    More about Cloak the Poke

    Join us at an upcoming Moms' Night Out event!

    Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible!

    Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com)

    Omnipod - Simplify Life

    Learn about Dexcom

    Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures

    The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter:

    Sign up for our newsletter here

    Here's where to find us:

    Facebook (Group)

    Facebook (Page)

    Instagram

    Check out Stacey's books!

    Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com

    Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.
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    27 mins
  • In the News... Omnipod updates, Tandem + Abbott, Dr. Pepper Zero recall, American Ninja and more!

    In the News... Omnipod updates, Tandem + Abbott, Dr. Pepper Zero recall, American Ninja and more!
    Jun 13 2025
    It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: what is adaptive biobehavioral control for AID systems? Omnipod 5 launches iOS app with Dexcom G7 compatability and a comic book(?!), Tandem and Abbott announce new partnership, Katie Bone is back on American Ninja Warrior, and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com 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. XX The American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions kicks off in a week – we expect as always to get a lot of information! I’m not covering in person this year, but I’ll bring you any big announcements. And we’ll do a wrap up In the News the following week. -- XX UVA with something new.. technology that allows an artificial pancreas system to adapt to users’ changing needs – and lets users adjust the settings – beyond what’s commercially available now. They’re calling this “adaptive biobehavioral control,” the technology helps fine-tune UVA’s artificial pancreas every two weeks, giving users a virtual tool to test different ways to manage their blood sugar using their own data. In a six-month study, participants using the technology spent more time in a healthy blood-sugar range, rising from 72% to 77%, and saw a small but meaningful drop in their average blood-sugar levels. While automated insulin delivery systems help users better manage Type 1 diabetes, adaptive biobehavioral control technology is designed to improve blood-sugar control during the day, when fluctuations occur more frequently due to meals and physical activity. This new technology uses “digital twins,” computer models simulating how a person’s body processes sugar. The models help the artificial pancreas keep up with changes in the user’s body and habits and give users a way to interact with the system. For example, users can try different settings, like how much insulin is released overnight, using the simulation before applying them in real life. https://news.virginia.edu/content/uvas-artificial-pancreas-uses-digital-twin-tech-improve-diabetes-control XX Five years later after COVID-19 his the US, a new study shows that there is a connection with type 1 diabetes triggers. This is new research from the University of Utah published in the journal ImmunoInformatics. With T1D in particular, a COVID infection appears to trigger the immune system of certain people who have a prior susceptibility to the condition to subsequently develop T1D symptoms, the new study suggests. University of Utah researchers hypothesize that COVID is leading to T1D diagnoses in a roundabout way as the virus presents the body with “molecular mimics,” or fragments of COVID proteins that bear an uncanny resemblance to those beta cell antigens. When a person is infected with COVID, the immune system not only attacks fragments of the viral protein but also attacks fragments of beta cell antigens because they look so similar and get mistaken for each other, explains lead study author Julio Facelli, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of biomedical informatics at University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City. That means that in people who are already predisposed to T1D, there may be a simultaneous autoimmune reaction involving the destruction of healthy beta cells, spurring the onset of type 1 diabetes. Both 2022 and 2024 research indicates that there has been a significant increase in new onset type 1 diabetes following the start of the COVID pandemic. It’s difficult to estimate just how many cases may have been triggered by COVID because numerous viruses, including rotavirus, measles, mumps, and rubella, can spark an autoimmune response that activates T1D, according to the 2022 research published in Immunology & Cell Biology. Again, it’s important to note that researchers don’t believe a COVID infection is causing diabetes, but rather, triggering it, in the same way certain environmental factors are believed to trigger immune-mediated conditions like Crohn’s and psoriasis. “ https://...
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    8 mins