Diabetech - Diabetes Tech, Research, News

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 AID pumps existed. In this episode, Kate shares how DIY innovation transformed her relationship with her daughter, pushed regulators like Health Canada to adapt, and ultimately led her to work inside medtech with Beta Bionics and Sequel MedTech (makers of the twiist pump). It’s the story of how passion, code, and community changed diabetes care forever.   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   ▶️ Watch the video episode   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your medical care team before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

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 also breaks down their glucose results, user experience with the Libre 3 Plus CGM, and how easy (or not) it was to get on the system. Whether you’re pump shopping or just curious about what makes twiist different, this conversation has you covered.   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   Sean's twiist Patch Hack   ▶️ Watch the video episode   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your medical care team before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

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 address sensor accuracy as many followers say it's a problem area for them.   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   ▶️ Watch the video episode   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your medical care team before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

Lane Desborough, a chemical engineer and diabetes tech innovator, shares his journey from co-founding Nightscout to enhancing diabetes device approvals. He explains the role of control loops in both refineries and healthcare, showcasing their impact on patient management. Lane discusses using simulations to expedite device regulation without losing safety. He also introduces the AID Interoperability Framework, aiming to democratize access for small companies and align diabetes tech innovation with the pace of consumer electronics.

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)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   Follow David Ahn here: Instagram | Tik Tok | X   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

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 Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

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 whats next for product availability around the globe. If you're a Tandem user or thinking about using its tech, you don't want to miss this one!   Watch The Podcast   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

Shannon Lantzy, a regulatory innovation expert with a NASA background and experience at the FDA, discusses the slow pace of diabetes tech innovation. She highlights safety, reimbursement, and legacy regulations as major hurdles. Shannon explains the importance of balancing risk and efficacy in medical devices and advocates for new automated testing methods to accelerate innovation. She also emphasizes the role of community-driven, open-source initiatives in driving standards and improving patient outcomes.

Taylor Patterson, a DIY Loop user and DevOps professional, shares his journey of integrating an AI-powered food analysis tool into Loop. He reveals how he built this feature in just 30 minutes, leveraging AI advancements to improve meal management for those with diabetes. Taylor discusses the tool's capabilities, including barcode scanning for nutritional breakdowns and diabetes-specific notes. He highlights its impact on his own health metrics, showcasing how AI can transform diabetes care by providing personalized insights and support.

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 joined by two incredible diabetes educators, Mary Rose Deraco and Meg Moreta, to break it all down and share why education remains such a critical — and often overlooked — part of diabetes care.   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   T1D Exchange Registry Sign up  (US residents only)   Watch This Episode On Youtube   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.