Emerging Technologies and Therapeutics for Type 1 Diabetes

Barriers to glucagon use in patients with type 1 diabetes

Glucagon use has been shown to be low in severe hypoglycemia events among adults with type 1 diabetes. In this study, we aimed to explore the barriers to using glucagon. We surveyed 576 adults with type 1 diabetes and demonstrated the barriers in using glucagon and speculated possible solutions.

Time in tight glucose range in adolescents and young adults with diabetes during Ramadan intermittent fasting: Data from real-world users on different treatment strategies

BACKGROUND

Time in tight range (TITR) is a novel glycemic metric assessing normoglycemia in individuals with diabetes.

AIM

To assess the attainability of the TITR (70-140 mg/dL) target in youth with diabetes using different treatment strategies during Ramadan fasting.

METHODS

This prospective study included 276 non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 426 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were categorized into: multiple daily injections [MDI] + intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM), sensor augmented pump (SAP) and advanced hybrid closed loop (AHCL).

RESULTS

At the end of Ramadan, the mean TITR was 42.3 ± 6.6 % for all T1DM patients and 63.5 ± 4.0 % in T2DM (p < 0.001). The highest TITR was in T2DM group together with T1DM on AHCL (62.3 ± 11.6 %), followed by SAP group (37.7 ± 5.7 %) and MDI + isCGM group (23.6 ± 5.9 %, p < 0.001). Hypoglycemic episodes as shown by time below range (TBR) < 70 mg/dL and TBR < 54 mg/dL were minimal during Ramadan in AHCL group in comparison to before Ramadan (2.6 ± 0.7 versus 2.9 ± 0.9 %; p = 0.061 and 0.4 ± 0.1 vs 0.5 ± 0.1 %, p = 0.561, respectively) with a lower coefficient of variation (CoV) (p < 0.001) than other T1DM participants.

CONCLUSION

At the end of Ramadan, TITR was decreased in patients with T1DM except those using AHCL who had similar levels to non-insulin-treated T2DM patients. Advanced technology has the potential for achieving tight glycemic targets, along with a reduction in CoV, without increasing hypoglycemic risk compared with other insulin treatment modalities.

Advances in diabetes technology within the digital diabetes ecosystem

Ongoing innovations in glucose monitoring, insulin delivery, and telehealth technologies have created a digital diabetes ecosystem populated by connected tools and technologies that have been shown to improve clinical outcomes, lower costs, and reduce the burden of diabetes. Advances in connected continuous glucose monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and insulin pens have led to the development of automated insulin delivery systems that modulate insulin infusion based on sensor glucose data. Similar integrations of continuous glucose monitoring and connected blood glucose meter data into "smart" pens have lessened the guesswork of intensive insulin management for individuals who prefer traditional injection therapy. A growing number of health apps that can be accessed through smartphones and wearable devices provide information and advice that support individuals in adopting healthier lifestyles. The differences in features and functionality give users the ability to select the devices that best meet their unique requirements and preferences. This article reviews the most current digital diabetes technologies and discusses how the connectivity of these tools can create an overarching architecture of feedback mechanisms that monitor an individual's health status, motivate and enhance adherence to self-management, and provide advice and decision-support tools to clinicians as well as other members of the health care team to make living with diabetes more manageable.

Future of Time-in-Range Goals in the Era of Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop Automated Insulin Delivery Systems

The concept of maintaining blood glucose levels within the 70-180 mg/dL range, known as time-in-range, has raised questions regarding its representation of true physiological euglycemia. Some have speculated that focusing on the time spent within the 70-140 mg/dL range, introduced as time in tight range (TITR) through the International Consensus statement, could serve as a more precise metric for assessing normoglycemia in individuals with type 1 diabetes. This article delves into the current status of TITR as an emerging marker and explores how advanced hybrid closed-loop systems may offer a promising avenue for achieving this higher level of glycemic control.