In the News... CGM Coverage, Why A1C vs GMI Matters, Fully Implantable CGM Trialed, T1D at the NYC Marathon and more

This week on Diabetes Connections In the News… big insurance changes could affect your CGM coverage, a new study looks at why the difference between estimated A1C from CGM and the A1C from the lab could really matter to your health, Eversense CGM starts testing a new version that's completely below the skin, news about heart health and type 1, the next generation of weight loss drug and a big week for

sports on the highest level with type 1. And it's diabetes awareness momth!

It's all coming up right after this.

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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.

Diabetes Awareness Month – I've got some news there, but there are SO many campaigns and releases this month. I've always said it's always diabetes awareness month around here and these awareness campaigns are for the engeral ppulario. So I'm sure you're inundated – I'll highlight what I think it noteworthy.

We're in Phoenix this week for our last in person event of the year. This is a Club 1921 event for the whole community. We will have more of these next year – but our Next in person event will be Tampa in March for MNO – that's open and we have a flash sale until the end of this month.

Okay.. our top story this week:

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Some people with diabetes may have to switch continuous glucose monitors starting January 1, 2027, because of insurance coverage changes involving CVS Caremark and Aetna. According to the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, some plans are moving to exclusive contracts that favor Abbott's FreeStyle Libre over Dexcom. Not everyone will be affected, and some patients may still be able to get their preferred CGM covered through medical rather than pharmacy benefits. DPAC is pushing back, arguing that insurance contracts shouldn't force people to change diabetes technology that's working for them. The organization is encouraging people to contact CVS Caremark and Aetna leadership through its online advocacy campaign.

https://diabetespatientadvocacycoalition.quorum.us/campaign/cgmcvs

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Dexcom is facing criticism from the diabetes community after users were presented with updated terms and conditions as they used the app.

Statement from Dexcom:

We understand the concerns surrounding our roll out of our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice and recognize the importance of providing users with clear information.

These updates are intended to support the continued operation, security and innovation of our products, while providing greater transparency into how data may be collected and used. We take our responsibility to protect users' personal information seriously and remain committed to handling their data responsibly.

Like many digital services, continued use of the Dexcom app requires acceptance of the updated Terms of Use. Moving forward, users will have 30 days from acceptance to opt out of the arbitration provisions and may also opt out of certain cookies and data-sharing activities at any time.

We understand the importance of uninterrupted access to glucose data for people managing diabetes. We are reviewing how we communicate and implement changes like these in the future to ensure users have the information they need and a clear understanding of their choices.

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Senseonics announced the initiation of its first-in-human clinical study evaluating Freedom, an investigational next-generation CGM system designed to communicate directly with a mobile device without the need for an external on-body transmitter.

Unlike the current Eversense, which uses a removable transmitter worn over the implanted sensor, Freedom is designed to communicate directly with a smartphone using Bluetooth. The initial study will focus on safety, design, and wireless communication. Senseonics hopes to begin a larger clinical trial in 2027, with a possible commercial launch in 2028 if development and regulatory review go as planned.

Source: Drug Delivery Business News

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In patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), having a laboratory A1c higher than the glucose management indicator (GMI), your CGM, was associated with more microvascular complications.

Researchers in Spain studied more than 1,300 adults with type 1 diabetes and found that people whose laboratory A1C was significantly higher than their CGM estimate were more likely to have complications involving their eyes, kidneys, or nerves. Those with the largest discrepancies had nearly twice the odds of these complications, even after researchers accounted for other clinical and CGM measurements. The study doesn't establish that the mismatch causes complications, but researchers say looking at both numbers together may help doctors better assess individual risk.

Source: Medscape

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New research suggests that widely used tools for predicting heart disease risk may significantly underestimate that risk in people with type 1 diabetes. Researchers analyzed decades of data from more than 1,300 participants in the long-running DCCT/EDIC study and found that actual cardiovascular events occurred more frequently than several standard risk calculators predicted. Adding a coronary artery calcium scan, which looks for calcium buildup in the arteries, improved predictions somewhat, but not dramatically. The findings, presented at the 2026 European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting, highlight the need for better heart disease risk assessment tools designed specifically for people with type 1.

Source: Medscape

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Eli Lilly is reporting impressive results for retatrutide, its experimental drug that targets three different hormone receptors, including GLP-1. In a Phase 3 study involving nearly 1,300 adults with type 2 diabetes, retatrutide lowered A1C by 2.2 percentage points, compared with 1.8 points for Ozempic. Participants taking retatrutide also lost an average of 44 to 47 pounds, roughly twice as much as those taking Ozempic. Side effects, including diarrhea and unusual skin sensations, were more common with retatrutide. The drug is not yet approved, and Lilly plans to seek FDA approval in early 2027.

Source: BioSpace

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It's official: MiniMed is now a fully independent company, completing its separation from longtime parent company Medtronic. MiniMed went public earlier this year, and Medtronic has now exchanged its remaining shares, ending its ownership stake in the diabetes technology business. MiniMed CEO Que Dallara says the independence gives the company more freedom to make decisions and advance diabetes care. The company is still working to separate some of its technology services from Medtronic, a process expected to continue into 2027.

Source: MedTech Dive

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Still to come, an implant designed to remove excess glucose without medication, help for younger adults with type 2, and type 1 hits the streets of new York.. right after this.

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Scientists in Switzerland and France have developed an experimental implant that removes excess glucose from the blood without using insulin or other diabetes medications. The tiny wireless device works with a continuous glucose monitor and uses an electrical reaction to convert glucose into a substance called gluconate, which is then cleared by the kidneys. In mice with type 2 diabetes and obesity, the device lowered blood sugar and reduced body weight by about 10% over six weeks. Researchers say the technology could eventually offer a new approach to treating type 2 diabetes, but it's still in the very early stages, with no human trials yet.

Source: Live Science

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A new study suggests that an intensive diet and exercise program can help some younger adults with type 2 diabetes achieve remission in just six months. Researchers followed 96 adults under age 45 and found that 54% of those in a medically supervised program achieved remission, compared with just 4% receiving standard care. The program included a very low-calorie diet of 800 to 900 calories per day during its initial phase, along with structured aerobic and strength training. Remission means blood sugar returns below the diabetes threshold without glucose-lowering medication, but it doesn't necessarily mean a permanent cure. These findings apply to type 2 diabetes, not type 1, and the intensive program was conducted under medical supervision.

Source: ScienceDaily

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Two big shoutouts for type 1 diabetes and sports. Major congrats to everyone who completed or even attempted the NYC Marathon – I'm in awe of how much training you've all put in. What an amazing accomplishment. And of course, I know some time has gone by, but one more mention of Garrett Mitchell from the World Series champion Milwakee Brewers.

A big week for people with type 1 diabetes in sports! Congratulations to everyone with T1D who took on the New York City Marathon, and a special shoutout to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell. We'll have more on Mitchell and his story coming up.

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I anticipate a lot of diabetes month news and campaigns and I'll share on social if I find them interesting and actionable. I don't really do much that's different – every month is diabetes awareness month around here. I do think it's a wonderful time to get information out to the non-diabetes community. Project Blue Novmeber always does a great job all month long if you're looking to shrae iformatoin via social.

That's it for in the news!

This week on Diabetes Connections In the News… big insurance changes could affect your CGM coverage, a new study looks at why the difference between estimated A1C from CGM and the A1C from the lab could really matter to your health, Eversense CGM starts testing a new version that's completely below the skin, news about heart health and type 1, the next generation of weight loss drug and a big week for sports on the highest level with type 1. Plus, it's diabetes awareness month!

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Episode transcript: