In the News.. Dexcom controversy, New T1D research, and a World Series moment to remember!
Episode Description
This week on Diabetes Connections In the News… a change from Dexcom sparks a big community response New developments in the race to protect insulin-producing beta cells, Lilly's GLP-1 pill moves closer to approval in Europe, and could remote monitoring help kids with type 1 improve their glucose management? Plus, are pregnant women being left behind by automated insulin delivery technology? And a Major League moment to remember as a player with type 1 diabetes sends the Milwaukee Brewers to the World Series!
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Transcript:
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.
Who else is getting ready for 2027? I know, I can't believe it either but I'm already booking to speak and we've got events on the books. I will not wish the rest of this year away, we've still got a lot going on, but please follow along, I'll keep you posted on where we're going and what's up.
Off to Seattle in a couple of days for MNO..
Okay.. our top story this week:
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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.
The notification included the message, "Please uninstall app if you don't agree." Some users reported they couldn't get past the notification to view their glucose readings without accepting the terms.
The controversy centers on provisions involving mandatory arbitration and class action waivers. Those provisions can limit a user's ability to pursue certain legal claims against Dexcom in court, instead requiring disputes to be handled through individual arbitration. The updated terms also raise questions about data privacy and the use of information for artificial intelligence features.
Rob howe from Diabetics Doing Things has an itnerivew going live later this week with Peter Simpson, CTO of Dexcom. Rob released a short clip from that interview, and gave me permission to re-air part of it here..
(clip)
I have not yet confirmed with Dexcom, but others on social media say that Dexcom has since clarified that users can opt out of the arbitration provision and continue using the app. According to the terms shared by users, they have 30 days after accepting to opt out by emailing Dexcom's legal department with their name, address, and a statement declining arbitration.
I've reached out to Dexcom, but have not yet received a response, they say they are working on it. If we get it after this episode goes live, I'll jump on social with an update.
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Immunocore has announced that the first person with type 1 diabetes has received an experimental treatment in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The therapy, called IMC-S118AI, is designed to protect insulin-producing beta cells by targeting and switching off the immune cells that attack them in people with T1D. Unlike treatments that affect the entire immune system, this approach is designed to work specifically around the beta cells, with the goal of preserving the body's ability to produce insulin. Earlier laboratory research using human pancreatic tissue showed promising results, including reduced immune attacks on beta cells and preserved insulin secretion. The Phase 1 trial will now evaluate the treatment's safety, how it moves through the body, and whether it shows signs of working in people with T1D who have a specific genetic marker.
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SAB Biotherapeutics has received FDA Fast Track designation for SAB-142, an experimental immune therapy designed to slow the progression of type 1 diabetes in people who have recently been diagnosed. The treatment uses human antibodies produced through genetically engineered cattle, with the goal of protecting the body's insulin-producing cells from immune system attacks. SAB-142 is currently being studied in a Phase 2b clinical trial involving people within 100 days of a Stage 3 type 1 diabetes diagnosis, with results expected in the second half of 2027. A separate Phase 3 study is also evaluating the treatment in people diagnosed between 100 days and two years earlier. Fast Track designation could help speed the development and FDA review process, but it does not mean the treatment has been approved or proven effective.
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Eli Lilly's once-daily GLP-1 pill, Foundayo, has taken another step toward approval in Europe. A European Medicines Agency committee has recommended the drug for both weight management and treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults, with a final decision expected from the European Commission in the coming weeks. Foundayo, also known as orforglipron, works similarly to injectable GLP-1 medications but comes in pill form and can be taken at any time of day without restrictions on food or water. The drug was approved in the U.S. for weight management in April 2026, while FDA review for type 2 diabetes is still pending. If approved in Europe, Foundayo would compete with Novo Nordisk's oral GLP-1 medications, including the Wegovy pill for weight management and Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes.
https://www.pharmexec.com/view/ema-panel-backs-lilly-foundayo-obesity-type-2-diabetes-europe
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A small pilot program at UC Davis Health found that remotely monitoring glucose data between doctor visits helped young people with type 1 diabetes improve their blood sugar management. The four-month study included 20 children and teens with A1Cs above 8% who were already using continuous glucose monitors. Clinicians reviewed their CGM data weekly and reached out by phone, text, or online messaging when patients needed additional support. By the end of the program, average time-in-range increased from 34% to 40%, while time spent above target dropped by nearly six percentage points. Patients also responded positively, with 83% saying remote monitoring should continue as part of their diabetes care. Researchers hope to expand the program and study whether this approach can also benefit people newly diagnosed with type 1
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A new editorial in Diabetes Care argues that pregnant women with type 1 diabetes are being left behind when it comes to automated insulin delivery technology. While AID systems have become the recommended treatment for people with T1D, most systems available in the U.S. aren't designed to meet the tighter glucose targets needed during pregnancy. The authors point out that pregnant women have routinely been excluded from clinical trials, leaving major gaps in research about how well these systems work during pregnancy. In fact, only four randomized trials worldwide have studied AID during pregnancy, involving just over 300 participants. The editorial calls on device manufacturers, researchers, and regulators to include pregnant women in clinical trials, develop pregnancy-specific technology, and collect more real-world data on existing systems. The authors say these changes are urgently needed to improve outcomes for both mothers and babies while reducing the burden of diabetes management during pregnancy.
T1d pregnancy and me study team, we did an episode on this.
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A sugar naturally found in red meat may help explain the connection between eating red meat and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers in France followed nearly 90,000 adults and found that those who consumed the most of this sugar, called Neu5Gc, had a 63% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who consumed the least. Neu5Gc is found primarily in beef and lamb, and researchers believe it may trigger an immune response that leads to chronic inflammation. The association remained significant even after accounting for factors such as physical activity, diet, and body weight. However, when researchers adjusted for the total amount of red meat consumed, the association was no longer statistically significant, meaning they can't say whether the sugar itself is responsible for the increased risk. The findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting and are considered preliminary.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261017230031.htm
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Breakthrough T1D, formerly JDRF, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, announces the conclusion of the inaugural Breakthrough T1D Clinical & Research Congress (CRC 2026).
From October 9-11, 2026, this landmark gathering of the global T1D community brought together world-renowned clinicians, researchers, scientists, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, people with lived experience, and community advocates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with the goal of improving lives and driving toward a world without T1D.
"Across the Congress, we looked at T1D from every angle: what we are learning about the disease, how that knowledge is shaping new treatments, and what people need from care today," said Dr Thomas Danne, Chief Medical Officer, International for Breakthrough T1D. "The most valuable discussions were the ones that connected those questions. That is how we make research more useful to the clinicians and communities it is meant to serve."
During CRC 2026, attendees explored the latest scientific and clinical advances during more than 80 sessions covering critical focus areas such as endocrinology, discovery science and immunotherapies, emerging technologies like AI and digital twins, islet cell and disease-modifying therapies, and access to care for the T1D community. Key moments from the two and half days of programming can be found in daily recaps below:
We'll have more on this in an episode next week.
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Up next, Dexcom for type 2 and in athletes with T1D, technology news from omnipod and ascensia, and T1D takes the spotlight in the big leagues of baseball.. right after this.
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Ascensia Diabetes Care teams up with Sava Technologies to support the introduction and future commercialization of its wearable microsensor, currently under development. The technology is being designed to continuously monitor relevant biomarkers and molecules, starting with glucose, just beneath the skin.
Sava is planning for a pivotal clinical study for its CGM technology this year and aims to obtain CE approval and launch the microsensor within the next 18 to 24 months. Ascensia makes the CONTOUR® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems. They were partnered with Senseonics, the makers of the Eversense 365 implantable CGM but spun that business off last year
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Insulet Corporation announced the U.S. full market release of Omnipod Discover™, a web-based data platform designed for Omnipod 5 users, their caregivers, and healthcare providers (HCPs).
With Omnipod Discover, Omnipod 5 users get simple, personalized glucose and insulin delivery reports sent directly to their smartphone weekly, so they know where to focus their diabetes management efforts. Omnipod Discover also helps HCPs make confident clinical recommendations from a concise report by overlaying a licensed Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) with key adjustable pump settings and bolus events.
In June, Insulet presented Real-World Glycemic Outcomes1 using the Omnipod Discover platform at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana. Use of Omnipod Discover was associated with improvements in time in range (TIR), with 32% of users seeing a clinically meaningful increase in TIR of 3% or more. These findings support the vital role that user engagement with Omnipod Discover can play in diabetes self-management.
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We talked about this study with Dexcom in our bonus episode last week, but it's worth revisiting now that the results have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Dexcom-funded study found that people with type 2 diabetes who don't use insulin saw significant improvements in blood sugar management when using a continuous glucose monitor. After 26 weeks, participants using Dexcom's G7 lowered their average A1C from 8.8% to 7.2%, compared to a drop from 8.7% to 8% for those receiving routine care. CGM users also spent about five additional hours each day in their target glucose range. The findings come as Medicare considers expanding CGM coverage to people with diabetes who don't use insulin, potentially opening access to millions more Americans. A decision on that expansion is expected before the end of the year, although the timing remains uncertain.
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New research from Dexcom suggests that more young adults with type 1 diabetes are staying involved in sports, and feelings of isolation and stigma are declining. The percentage who quit sports after diagnosis dropped from 24% in 2022 to 16% in 2026, while those reporting frequent loneliness fell from 28% to 15%. But challenges remain, with fear of low blood sugar and the complexity of managing diabetes during exercise among the biggest reasons people stop playing. The research also found that young adults who started using a CGM within a year of diagnosis reported fewer glucose management challenges and less fear of lows than those who started later. The findings come as Dexcom launches its fifth season of Dexcom U, featuring 27 college athletes with diabetes across 13 sports. The program aims to increase visibility and show young people with T1D what's possible.
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Dexcom has announced a new partnership with Team Novo Nordisk, the world's only professional cycling team made up entirely of athletes with diabetes. Dexcom will become the team's official continuous glucose monitoring partner, with plans to support research, education, and awareness about managing type 1 diabetes during demanding physical activity. Team co-founder Phil Southerland says seeing professional athletes using the same diabetes technology as kids at home can make a powerful difference. Cyclist David Lozano, who's been with the team since 2012, says CGM technology has transformed how he trains, allowing him to see where his glucose is heading rather than just where it's been. The partnership also aims to highlight the role of diabetes technology in helping people with T1D pursue their athletic goals.
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A powerful moment in Major League Baseball this week as Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 9, hit the game-winning home run that sent his team to the World Series. Mitchell has faced doubts throughout his career about whether he could stay healthy enough to handle a full baseball season, but this year he's played more games than in his previous four seasons combined. His father, Antony, says Garrett has always been motivated to prove people wrong, and that managing diabetes behind the scenes takes tremendous work. Mitchell uses an insulin pump and monitors his glucose throughout games, and he's also become a role model for young athletes with T1D. His dad summed up the emotional moment this way: "He has managed himself for many years, and here he is, an example to kids that anything is possible." And now, after helping the Brewers complete a remarkable comeback against the Dodgers, Mitchell is headed to the World Series.
https://www.mlb.com/news/garrett-mitchell-hits-go-ahead-homer-to-send-brewers-to-world-series
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