Diabetes Tech Updates: May 2020
Another month, and another smaller flurry of diabetes tech news.
Among the most exciting news, I recently had a chat with my local AMSL rep. The recently approved Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor is expected to launch into the Australian market in June, once stock hits our shores. Training is well underway for company reps. It’s expected that the launch will initially cater to the private market, as it will likely be a little while longer before G6 is available through the NDSS for users who are accessing the government subsidy.
Basal IQ, the predictive low glucose suspend update to the t:slim, has also been approved (this is per my rep, I can’t find a source myself). AMSL are planning to launch this later in the year, in a staggered fashion once G6 is a little more settled into the market.
In other news, Ypsomed have finally announced the long promised CGM partner for their insulin pump. An update to Ypsomed’s mylife app will integrate CGM readings from the Dexcom G6 (and future Dexcom iterations). The mylife app currently receives data from the YpsoPump via a Bluetooth connection, and is where users perform their bolus calculations.
Given that the Ypsomed app can also be used in MDI mode, I think CGM integration is a big win for those who aren’t using pumps, too. It’s also fantastic to see Dexcom forging partnerships with different players in the market to facilitate greater choice to people with diabetes. Because more choice for people with diabetes is always a good thing. This is expected to launch in Europe later this year/early 2021. No news as to when this will launch in Australia.
The press release goes on to suggest that Ypsomed are also working toward their roadmap which was outlined to us at YpsoPump launch event in May 2018. This involves eventually having the pump remotely controlled via the mylife smartphone app. Ypsomed also has the option of adding a hybrid closed loop feature, powered by the Dexcom TypeZero algorithm (I believe this is the same algorithm that is powering Tandem’s Basal IQ/Control IQ updates).
The official press release is here.
In some older news, there are temporary limits to the supply of insulin pump consumables via the NDSS for Aussies. In response to increased demand out of COVID-19, Diabetes Australia has advised limits of 2 boxes of insulin pump consumables and 2 boxes of cartridges per order. Test strips, needles and syringes are limited to 3 boxes per order. Please only order what you need.
In somewhat of a more unusual announcement, Roche Diabetes Care have added child resistant battery compartments to AccuChek Guide and Instant S blood glucose meters. I personally think the Guide is the best blood glucose meter I’ve ever used, and it’s great to see Roche’s commitment to standard blood glucose monitoring which is still important to so many people.
If you have any questions, feel free to pop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.
