On this episode of Diabetes Connections In the news…

The FDA approves a new indication and health benefit for Mounjaro, lots of CGM news including an update on Medicare coverage for people who don’t use insulin and a new study about using CGM when you don’t have diabetes, metformin and aging, statins and type 2, and did you know there was a Dolly Parton diabetes connections? That and much more…

Check out all of our events like Moms’ Night Out and Club 1921 here.

Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners – they help make the show possible!
Omnipod – Simplify Life
All about Dexcom 
All about 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 

On this episode of Diabetes Connections In the news…

The FDA approves a new indication and health benefit for Mounjaro, lots of CGM news including an update on Medicare coverage for people who don’t use insulin and a new study about using CGM when you don’t have diabetes, metformin and aging, statins and type 2, and did you know there was a Dolly Parton diabetes connections? That and much more..

that’s coming up right after this.

(AD BREAK)

Welcome! I’m your host Stacey Simms and this is an In The News episode.. where we bring you the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. A reminder that you can find the sources and links and a transcript and more info for every story mentioned here in the show notes.

Welcome to September! Want to let you know about a webinar I’m doing with Abbott later this month. That’s Sept 23 at 7pm ET. We’ll be talking about ketones, DKA and learn more about their dual CGM/ketone monitor that was just approved – more on that coming up. But please register – the link is in the show notes.

So much going on over here – tomorrow night we have our Club 1921 in Charlotte, later this month Moms’ Night Out Detroit/Bloomfield and in October we’re going to Seattle. Please join us. More at d-c dot com slash events.

Okay.. our top story this week:

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Another indication for Mounjaro – the FDA approved it to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE), including CV death, non-fatal heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events. Mounjaro – the brand name of tirzepatide – is already approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes.

The approval was based on results from the largest and longest tirzepatide study to date, enrolling more than 13,000 participants across 30 countries over more than four and a half years. In the trial, Mounjaro demonstrated non-inferiority to Trulicity (dulaglutide), a GLP-1 treatment with established cardiovascular benefit, with an 8% lower rate of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke (MACE-3). The estimated hazard ratio for time to first MACE was 0.92 (95.3% CI: 0.83, 1.01) for Mounjaro compared to Trulicity (dulaglutide).

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-lillys-mounjaro-tirzepatide-to-reduce-cardiovascular-risk-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-302862415.html

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The FDA approves the Libre Duo – the first device designed to continuously monitor both blood sugar levels and ketone levels in people with diabetes.

The Libre Duo 10-Day Continuous Dual Glucose Ketone Monitoring System is now approved for those ages 2 and older.

Until now, the agency said, people had to monitor ketone levels with separate tests that only provided a single measurement at one point in time. The new system combines blood sugar and ketone tests and monitors them continuously. Readings — and alerts in case of dangerous trends — are sent wirelessly to a smartphone app.

The FDA previously granted “breakthrough device” status to the system, which is meant to expedite the device’s development and review.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/08/25/fda-oks-blood-sugar-ketone-monitor/5521787688375/

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Diabetes tech firms Dexcom and Abbott are watching closely for a Medicare coverage expansion that could significantly broaden access to their glucose sensors.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is expected to expand Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors to people with diabetes who do not take insulin. Currently, coverage is limited to people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who take insulin or have a history of problematic low blood sugar.

Dexcom CEO Jake Leach told investors in a late July earnings call that the company expects to hear back from the CMS before the end of the year, with coverage going into effect in mid-2027.

 

 

Dexcom presented results of a randomized, controlled trial earlier this summer at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions that it expects will support the CMS’ decision. The 26-week study found that people who used a CGM had a larger hemoglobin A1C reduction than the control group and spent five more hours per day in a normal glucose range than the control group.

https://www.medtechdive.com/news/dexcom-abbott-await-medicare-coverage-expansion-for-cgms/828775/

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A new study suggests continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) may offer benefits for people with type 1 diabetes that go beyond improving blood sugar and reducing hypoglycemia.

 

Researchers analyzed health records from more than 8,400 adults with type 1 diabetes receiving care through the Veterans Health Administration. Over one to four years of follow-up, people who started using a CGM had a 10% to 16% lower risk of death from any cause compared with those who did not use one.

 

The association appeared strongest among people over age 65 and those who were not using insulin pumps. Researchers did not find meaningful differences based on A1C, race or ethnicity, or frailty.

 

Importantly, this was an observational study using medical records, not a randomized clinical trial, so it cannot prove that CGM use directly caused the lower death rate. But the findings suggest CGM may have important long-term health benefits beyond glucose

management.https://visualize.jove.com/42319755-continuous-glucose-monitoring-initiation-is-associated-with-reduced-mortality-in-older-onset-type-1-diabetes-patients-a-target-trial-emulation-study-within-the-veterans-health-administration

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We’ve been talking about people without diabetes using CGMs for a long time.. now a new study weighs in. Research published in JAMA finds that this wellness trend isn’t helpful for people without a diabetes diagnosis.

They found that the strongest evidence for CGM use is for people who are already living with diabetes, but not for those without the condition who use them for wellness purposes.

It’s also worth noting, though, that this new study is a narrative review. This means that the researchers drew their conclusions from the findings reported in several other studies. More randomized controlled trials would be necessary to see whether there are any meaningful health benefits of using a CGM if you don’t have diabetes.

 

Dower also warned that constantly monitoring your blood sugar when you don’t have diabetes could lead to unintended health anxiety. In some cases, you may even make accidental lifestyle changes that could be harmful. “[Blood sugar] spikes may occur after meals, but if this leads someone to replace healthy food such as fruit with unhealthy food such as something high in fat but low in carbohydrate, the glucose information has done more harm than good,” Dower said.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/blood-sugar-monitor-for-people-without-diabetes-12058575

 

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Could metformin somehow influence the biological processes that drive aging? A new review found evidence that metformin may affect several key features of aging, including how cells use energy, inflammation, cellular damage and even some changes in gene activity. Animal studies have shown longer lifespans or improvements in markers of biological aging, while some human studies have also found promising results.

 

But researchers say there’s still no proof that metformin actually slows aging or helps healthy people live longer. Most human research has involved people with diabetes or other health conditions, and one large trial found that while metformin helped prevent type 2 diabetes, it did not reduce cancer, cardiovascular disease or deaths.

 

Researchers say larger clinical trials in people without diabetes are needed to determine whether metformin can truly extend healthy lifespan—or whether its benefits are primarily related to preventing and treating specific diseases.

https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/metformin-may-influence-longevity-through-the-gut-microbiome-and-epigenetic-changes-416035

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More to come including more research on a spice thought to help diabetes, predictions about the number of people who may be living with type 1 in the years to come around the world, and a connection I didn’t know about between diabetes and Dolly Parton.

 

XX

A compound found in turmeric may help protect blood vessels from some of the damage caused by Type 1 diabetes. In rats, curcumin reduced inflammation, improved cellular signaling, and restored vascular health to levels resembling those of nondiabetic animals. The results hint at a possible new way to reduce the long-term cardiovascular risks of diabetes, but human trials are still needed.

Curcumin, the natural compound responsible for turmeric’s vivid yellow color, is widely studied for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065543.htm

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New research estimates the number of people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) worldwide will increase by 29% from 9.4 million in 2025 to 12.1 million in 2049. This will be presented at EASD, the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2

The USA will see an increase of over half a million, going from 1,492,825 to 2,055,235. The authors suggest that the reasons for the predicted high incidence and prevalence in 2049 in countries such as Australia, US, UK are likely to be a combination of genetics, environmental triggers and also high case detection rates (due to the good health care infrastructure here and in other HIC).

Unlike previous estimates, the DIAMOND-T1D model takes historical patterns of insulin availability into account and aims to provide global, regional and country-specific estimates of T1D incidence, prevalence and mortality from 1900 to 2050.

Although the majority of people with T1D live in high-income countries (HIC) and middle-income countries (MIC), the largest relative increase in the T1D prevalence is expected to occur in LIC as access to insulin, glucose monitoring and survival all improve in those countries.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260828/Type-1-diabetes-cases-projected-to-increase-worldwide-by-2049.aspx

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Early initiation of statins after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was associated with a lower risk of dementia, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. According to the Lancet Commission, nearly half of dementia cases could theoretically be prevented by eliminating 14 risk factors.

“Detecting and treating high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from midlife is one such highlighted risk factor,”

From Danish registers, researchers identified 132,585 statin-naive individuals who developed type 2 diabetes from 2006 through 2019, with follow-up until the end of 2021.

 

Medical records were searched for diagnoses of all-cause dementia. A clone-censor-weight design was used to analyze dementia incidence in patients with no statin initiation within five years after diagnosis, in those with early statin initiation within one year and in those with late statin initiation between one and five years after diagnosis.

 

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-early-statins-diagnosis-diabetes-dementia.html

 

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We are heartbroken over the loss of our friend Dolly Parton. Dolly was a beloved icon whose extraordinary generosity, warmth, and compassion touched countless lives, including those of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

Her support of The Carousel Ball and Carousel of Hope Ball reflected her deep commitment to helping children and families affected by type 1 diabetes. Beyond her remarkable talent, Dolly will be remembered for the kindness and joy she shared so generously with others.

Our hearts are with her family, friends, and all who loved her as we celebrate her extraordinary life and lasting legacy. She will be deeply missed.

 

Listen Now!

On this episode of Diabetes Connections In the news…

Sanofi acknowledges an insulin shortage, a new oral therapy for type 1 moves along in research, could there be an actual, accurate, non-invasive CGM in the works, ADA conflict continues and a new documentary about Girl Scout cookies shines a spotlight on T1D.

Don’t miss our upcoming events! Moms’ Night Out in Detroit and Seattle, Club 1921 in Charlotte and Phoenix: https://diabetes-connections.com/events/

Announcing Community Commericals! Learn how to get your message on the show here.
Learn more about studies and research at Thrivable here
Please visit our Sponsors & Partners – they help make the show possible!
Omnipod – Simplify Life
All about Dexcom 
All about 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 

Transcript: 

(Stacey Track)
On this episode of Diabetes Connections In the news…

Sanofi acknowledges an insulin shortage, a new oral therapy for type 1 moves along in research, could there be an actual, accurate, non-invasive CGM in the works, ADA conflict continues and I can’t wait to tell you about Cookie Queens.. that’s coming up right after this.

(AD BREAK)

Welcome! I’m your host Stacey Simms and this is an In The News episode.. where we bring you the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. A reminder that you can find the sources and links and a transcript and more info for every story mentioned here in the show notes.

We are still looking for your community commercials. These are 30–60 second audio spots created by members of the diabetes community to share:

Events you’re organizing: a fundraiser, walk, or local meetup

Products you’ve created: maybe you’ve written a book, have a Substack, designed a T1D-friendly gadget, or launched a small business

Helpful projects or resources: things you think others in our community should know about

It’s your chance to share what you’re doing and help others get connected!

Full instructions are on the website.

While you’re there please check out our events. We’re turning toward fall and we have a lot going on – MNO and Club 1921.

 

Okay.. our top story this week:

XX

I want to talk about Cookie Queens! It might not sound like a hard news story.. but

It’s my show and I can’t wait to watch this. This move follows four Girl Scouts ages 5-12 during cookie season. One of the girls has type 1 – they don’t mention it in the trailer, but you can see her omnipod. Here’s a clip:  

Start the very beginning and stop after “I want to be a supreme court justice.” (stop after the “oh..laughter”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSQS43Eil8

 

Viewers meet Ara from San Diego, CA (5), Shannon Elizabeth from El Paso, TX (8), Nikki from Chino, CA (9), and Olive from Charlotte, NC (12).

Ara has Type 1 diabetes and is shown taking insulin, refilling her pump before bed, and determining with her dad how to sample the cookies she’s selling while keeping her blood sugar levels safe.

Thumbs down to the Hollywood reporter dot com. In their review they say.. “if this film were itself a baked good, Ara would need to be careful because one bite could cause hyperglycemia or even diabetic ketoacidosis. It’s just that sweet.”

Cookie Queens comes out this month.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/cookie-queens-review-prince-harry-meghan-markle-girl-scouts-1236484555/

trailer:

 

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Supply issues for Lantus SoloStar pens being acknowledged by Sanofi. The company says it’s experiencing “a period of intermittent supply due to increased demand.

The company said the increase in demand is being driven by “broader market dynamics,” but did not provide additional details.

Sanofi said the situation is temporary and is expected to improve over the coming weeks.

The company said Lantus U-100 vials and Toujeo U-300, which contain the same active ingredient, remain available.

https://www.wral.com/news/local/common-insulin-pen-faces-supply-issues-amid-rising-demand-july-23-2026/

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The University of Alabama at Birmingham startup TIXiMED Inc. has launched the next phase of clinical testing for a novel oral therapy for Type 1.

For now called TIX100, a small-molecule drug designed to inhibit a protein linked to pancreatic beta-cell loss and diabetes progression.

The new double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study will evaluate the drug’s safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics. Researchers will enroll 18 healthy participants across three dose cohorts at a single United States study site. Participants will receive either TIX100 or a placebo twice daily for 28 days, followed by a seven-day follow-up period. Six participants making up the first cohort have been successfully enrolled thus far.

In addition to its potential use in Type 1 diabetes, TIX100 may have applications in Type 2 diabetes and obesity. A recent study found that the drug prevented weight regain and preserved lean muscle mass after discontinuation of GLP-1 therapies in preclinical models.

https://www.uab.edu/news/research-innovation/startup-advances-novel-oral-type-1-diabetes-therapy-to-next-phase-of-human-testing

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Researchers at the University of California San Diego say they have developed and validated a Continuous Health Analyzing Ring Module (CHARM), a compact, fully integrated wearable smart ring capable of continuous real-time monitoring of multiple biomarkers in sweat.

The wearable device can simultaneously measure up to four biomarkers, including glucose, ketone, uric acid, lactate, ascorbic acid, and alcohol, to provide real-time insights into metabolic health. The study is published in Nature Communications.

They say CHARM device contains all necessary biomarker sensors, low-power electronics, and a flexible battery. The left compartment of the device is designed to draw sweat passively using an osmotic hydrogel, a soft polymer that creates a pressure gradient to pull fluid from the skin painlessly.

The sweat is then analyzed by multiplexed electrochemical sensor arrays within the same compartment, leading to simultaneous and real-time tracking of four biomarkers at a time.

 

The right compartment of the device contains a flexible zinc-silver oxide rechargeable battery that supplies power for up to 12 hours of operation between charges. Biomarker information generated through sensors is wirelessly transferred to a connected Bluetooth-enabled device for real-time display

The findings indicated that the device performed well in initial temperature, cytotoxicity, and on-body compatibility tests. It also demonstrated high analytical accuracy in preliminary studies involving healthy participants and individuals with type 1 diabetes, highlighting its potential for non-invasive metabolic monitoring.

The calculated estimated sweat-based blood glucose concentration showed a mean absolute relative difference of approximately 13.7% against its corresponding blood concentration values.

 

The device needs further validation in diverse clinical settings and across large diabetic cohorts.

 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260727/Prototype-smart-ring-tracks-multiple-sweat-biomarkers.aspx

 

XX

Hotter weather and rising temps appear to increase the short term risk for low blood sugar in adults with type 1.

An analysis of more than 32 million continuous glucose monitor (CGM) readings from nearly 700 adults with T1D in the UK showed a 26% greater risk for hypoglycemia at a temperature of 25 °C (77 °F) than at 13 °C (55.4 °F). Hypoglycemia was defined as a glucose level < 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL).

The study included 679 individuals with T1D and 32,966,282 CGM readings collected between February 23, 2017, and August 8, 2024. Participants had a mean age of 46.4 years and a mean T1D duration of 23.7 years.

The researchers observed strong seasonal patterns, with lower odds of hypoglycemia in late winter and early spring, followed by a peak during the summer.

The lowest risk occurred on Mondays. The odds then increased over the course of the week and peaked toward the weekend, with a significant odds ratio of 1.14 on Saturdays compared with Mondays.

Increases in hypoglycemia were observed during both hot and cold weather, but the association was stronger for heat. The net odds ratio was 1.26 at 25 °C compared with 13 °C.

 

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/when-temperatures-climb-hypoglycemia-risk-rises-type-1-2026a1000q4r

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Seven weeks after the expulsion of five diabetes experts from the American Diabetes Association conference, controversy continues. More than 200 members now calling for two ADA leaders to resign. In response, the ADA delivered its own message Tuesday, expressing appreciation for members’ patience while a report is prepared.

 

The resignation demand, sent last week in an open letter to the ADA board of directors, calls for the removal of CEO Charles Henderson and chief scientific and medical officer Rita Kalyani. It also urges “an independent investigation into the events of the 2026 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, a full apology to the five colleagues removed from the meeting, and the restoration of editorial independence at Diabetes Care,” an ADA scientific journal.

 

https://www.statnews.com/2026/07/28/american-diabetes-association-fallout-researchers-expulsion/

XX

XX

Still to come, , a new link between diabetes and dementia, device updates, and why you might want to start rooting for the Red Sox..  

XX

New study says that people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) before the age of 10 years had a 37% higher risk of developing all-cause dementia later in life than those diagnosed between ages of 18 and 30 years.

These researchers used a Swedish national register of 43,440 individuals with T1D (mean age at cohort entry, 33 years; 44% women)

Worth noting a couple of things.. the mean age in this study was 33 – so the people who were diagnosed under the age of ten would not have had access to current technology – no CGMs or AID systems.

And while the study says it’s 37% higher for the younger group, the actual rate was still very low. As always, I’ll link to the study so you can learn more. My obvious bias here to look for a silver lining because I have a son who diagnosed with T1D at age 2.

 

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/type-1-diabetes-onset-before-age-10-tied-higher-risk-2026a1000pir

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Researchers have developed a machine learning model that uses routine clinical information to detect diabetes and distinguish between type 1, type 2, prediabetes, and diabetes caused by pancreatic disease. The model performed well in early testing, but researchers say it still needs to be validated in independent patient groups before it could be considered for use in diabetes screening or clinical care. It did not assess clinical utility, patient outcomes, or quality of life.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260729/Researchers-train-AI-to-detect-diabetes-and-assign-four-diagnostic-labels.aspx

XX

Trinity Biotech and Latch Medical are teaming up to explore combining CGM with precision drug delivery technology for diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic conditions. The companies hope real-time glucose data from Trinity’s CGM+ sensor could eventually help guide more personalized treatment decisions and medication delivery. Trinity’s CGM+ is still in development, with a pivotal clinical trial planned for later this year.

https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/trinity-biotech-collab-cgm-drug-delivery/

XX

The FDA selects Dexcom as the first participant in a new digital health pilot that will exempt certain digital health devices from FDA premarket authorization requirements while collecting real world data through a complementary Medicare program.

Dexcom, plans to implement an artificial intelligence-enabled glucose health program through the pilot. The program is intended to help screen for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

The company plans to integrate data from its sensors, including its prescription G7 CGM and its over-the-counter Stelo device, along with contextual health information such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress.

The FDA announced plans for the Technology-Enabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes, or TEMPO, pilot last year amid a broader push for adoption of digital health and wearables. It coincides with a new program by the CMS to fund the use of digital technologies for managing chronic conditions.

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/fda-names-dexcom-as-first-participant-in-digital-health-pilot/826215/

XX

Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries now have access to the new MiniMed Flex insulin pump.

Beneficiaries can now access the MiniMed Flex and its latest sensor portfolio, which currently includes the Simplera Sync sensor, a disposable, all-in-one sensor with easy two-step insertion. The company plans to roll it out with the Instinct sensor, made by Abbott, later this summer. It also added Abbott’s dual glucose-ketone sensor (still investigational in the U.S.) to its portfolio this year.

Flex picked up FDA clearance in March and the company announced the initial commercial rollout of the pump last month.

https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/minimed-flex-pump-now-available-medicare/

XX

Eli Lilly expands it’s partnership with Resilience – the makers of the KwikPen device. Through the investment, Resilience will significantly increase U.S. production of Lilly’s KwikPen injectable device for diabetes and obesity medicines.

In February, Lilly won FDA approval for Zepbound in a multidose KwikPen device. The product includes four doses of the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, providing a month of treatment for obesity or overweight in one device.

Resilience expects the KwikPen capacity expansion to create at least 400 jobs in the Cincinnati area.

https://www.biospace.com/deals/lilly-and-resilience-invest-750m-in-diabetes-and-obesity-drug-device-supply

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Alex Cooper – the host of the top podcast Call her Daddy – announced she’s been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

 

“When I got this diagnosis, the first couple days, I was really hard on myself,” the 31-year-old admitted. “It felt very isolating, like, as much as my family and my husband and everyone was there for me I just felt like, it’s me on an island.”

She says she found an online community that’s been helping.

In sharing her experience, she hoped it would alleviate the stress.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1434556/pregnant-alex-cooper-shares-isolating-gestational-diabetes-diagnosis

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Several amazing diabetes non profits are vying for big charity dollars from the Boston Red Sox. The IMPACT Awards provide Red Sox fans with the chance to nominate their favorite, most impactful nonprofit organization serving New England for their opportunity to win a grant from the Red Sox Foundation. In 2026, the IMPACT Awards will focus on organizations that are supporting research and providing awareness, advocacy, and services to people with diabetes.

Check out all the charities and vote for your favorites – you’ve heard of so many of these I promise – at the link in the episode show notes, .

https://www.mlb.com/redsox/community/red-sox-foundation/impact-awards?partnerId=redirect-bos-impact

Listen Now!