Diabetech - Diabetes Tech, Research, News

What happens when diabetes tech doesn’t do what you need—and you decide to build the solution yourself? I sit down with Pablo Medina, who was recently diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes and built his own iPhone app to fix gaps in insulin patch tracking. We get into his misdiagnosis journey, his experience with devices like InPen, Cequr Simplicity, and why he’s now trialing the Omnipod 5 AID system. Pablo walks me through how his insu...

Medtronic, soon-to-be MiniMed, officially launched its brand-new Instinct CGM in the U.S., a 15-day, no-calibration sensor that pairs seamlessly with the 780G insulin pump. I sit down with Medtronic’s Laura Endres to break down everything. Laura gives us a live demo of the Instinct applicator, explains how it integrates with both the 780G and the upcoming MiniMed Go smart pen platform, and shares why Medtronic partnered with Abbott...

On our new show Optimizing Diabetes Tech (ODT) my co-host Gary Scheiner CDCES and I discuss how people with diabetes can take full advantage of their continuous glucose monitors to make managing Diabetes easier and safer. We get into how to react to alarms, adjust settings, and the features you need to know about. We also answer your questions about CGMs.

Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*

Learn About Integrated Diabetes ...

I sit down with Josiah Dykstra—a cybersecurity expert who spent nearly two decades at the NSA and has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years—to explore what diabetes management looks like inside some of the most locked-down buildings in the world. We talk about what happens when your phone, smartwatch, and even certain medical devices are banned; why a standalone Dexcom receiver became essential for his T1D care; and how gove...

I sit down with endocrinologist and diabetes tech expert Dr. David Ahn to unpack the future of tubeless insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery for people with type 1 diabetes. We break down how companies like Omnipod, Tandem (with its tubeless Mobi and 7-day infusion set), Beta Bionics with its reusable mint patch pump, and Medtronic’s upcoming MiniMed Fit are racing to own the next generation of patch pumps. We talk about wh...

I sit down with Breakthrough T1D CEO Dr. Aaron Kowalski to trace his journey—from open-source roots and the early CGM days to leading one of the most influential organizations in diabetes. We dig into how the Artificial Pancreas Project helped make CGMs and AID systems mainstream, and why Aaron believes he’ll one day take off his insulin pump. He breaks down today’s cure pathways—cell replacement and regeneration, immune modulation...

Pregnancy with diabetes can feel overwhelming—and our healthcare system doesn’t always provide the support people need. In this episode, I talk with Kari Cao and Kelly Carter from RenewRx, a platform transforming prenatal care with behavior-based coaching, CGM insights, and real-time support for both patients and providers. It’s a heartwarming conversation about how they’re filling the gaps in our healthcare system and empowering w...

Researchers are pushing the boundaries of noninvasive glucose monitoring—by looking to the brain. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Casey Halpern, founder and CEO of SynchNeuro, a startup developing a small wearable that sits behind the ear and reads brainwave activity (EEG) to track glucose levels. The device interprets electrical signals from the hypothalamus and other brain regions to detect shifts in glucose, stress, and metabo...

Before CGM data hit Apple Watches or official apps, Kate Farnsworth and a community of determined parents made it happen themselves. Labeled “helicopter parents” by companies Dexcom, they soldered devices, coded software, and launched Nightscout—the first way to view glucose data remotely. Kate went on to found the Looped Facebook group helping over 30,000 families build their own open-source insulin systems years before commercial...

The twiist insulin pump from Sequel Med Tech is finally in users’ hands—and people have thoughts! I sas down with two early adopters, Sean Wilkinson and nurse practitioner Jori Matushek, to discuss their first month using twiist. They dive into everything from the algorithm’s unique features—like emoji-based bolusing and retroactive carb adjustments—to infusion set design, occlusion detection, and how it feels to wear. The trio als...

This episode explores the Medtrum automated insulin system, a tubeless patch pump available across Europe, Argentina, New Zealand and more. Mariska Francke shares her experience after two years on the pump and four months using the Medtrum Nano CGM—covering setup, app use, alerts, and what it’s like day-to-day. She opens up about improved sleep, accuracy challenges, and what’s ahead with Medtrum’s next-generation sensors. We also a...

I sit down with engineer and diabetes innovator Lane Desborough to explore how control loops shape our everyday lives—and why they’re the foundation of diabetes technology. Lane shares his journey from building Nightscout to pioneering new ways to speed up diabetes device innovation. We dive into his latest work using simulations to help regulators clear devices faster, without sacrificing safety. Could this be the key to shrinking...

From inhaled insulin to an oral smart insulin pill the future of insulin innovation is bright! David Ahn and I discuss the history of insulin, why it is slower than insulin produced from the pancreas and the standings of insulin research in the works, such as once-a-week long-acting insulin injections.

Join the Diabetech Newsletter

Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*

T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)

F...

We dive into type 3C diabetes, a lesser-known form that develops after pancreatic damage from pancreatitis, surgery, or trauma. Ivan Werning breaks down how it differs from type 1 and type 2, the challenges of delayed diagnosis, and the realities of managing both blood sugar and digestion. We also explore how he uses the CeQur Simplicity insulin patch why awareness of this rare condition is so important.

Join the Diabetech Newsle...

I sit down with Tandem Diabetes' Senior Director of Product Marketing, Ben Mar, to unpack all the big tech coming from the company and recent safety warnings users should be aware of. We get the first public video demo of the 7-day SteadiSet infusion set, unpack the upcoming tubeless Mobi option, and Ben shares updates on Libre 3 Plus integration and an Android app coming soon. I also asked Ben a ton of your questions including wha...

Diabetes tech often advances slowly because of hard constraints: safety, liability, FDA clearance, and reimbursement—so apps take years, pump designs stagnate, and algorithms lag behind what’s possible. In this episode, we unpack how those forces shape timelines and what’s being done to move faster without sacrificing safety. Joining me is Shannon Lantzy, a regulatory innovation expert who started at NASA, earned a PhD in decision ...

DIY Loop user Taylor Patterson built an AI-powered food analysis tool right into the AID app—helping users take pictures, scan barcodes, or enter text and voice prompts to get carb estimates, nutrition breakdowns, and diabetes-oriented notes. In this episode, Taylor explains how he created the feature in just 30 minutes, how it’s already helping him improve his time in range, and why AI could change the way people with diabetes app...

We cover ADCES 2025 updates on how diabetes educators are adapting to AI, new insights on mental health and eating disorders in type 1, and eye-opening stats about access to care. We also dive into the latest diabetes tech, including the Pivot pump, DIY systems, and carb awareness research. And lastly, we discuss major progress toward a cure for type 1 diabetes, with companies like Vertex and Sana moving faster than ever. I’m joine...

We dive into the growing off-label use of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro among people with type 1 diabetes. I'm joined by longtime diabetes advocate and healthcare executive Marie Schiller to explore the benefits, risks, and evolving research around these drugs. We discuss new studies, including the ADJUST-T1D trial, showing improved A1C, increased time in range, reduced insulin needs, and moderate weight loss...