4
NEWS
HCL rollout
announced
In draft guidance, an independent
NICE committee has recommended
the use of hybrid closed loop (HCL)
systems for managing blood glucose
levels in Type 1 diabetes - technology
that has been described as a step
towards an artificial pancreas.
NHS trials has provided data
which has allowed NICE to consider
wider use of the technology, which
comprises a continuous glucose
monitor sensor attached to the body.
This transmits data to a body-worn
insulin pump that calculates out how
much insulin needs to be delivered
into the body to keep blood glucose
levels within a healthy range.
NICE has recommended
that people who are unable to
control their condition using an
insulin pump, or real-time or
intermittently scanned continuous
glucose monitoring, are offered
the technology if their long-term
average HbA1c readings are 8.0% or
more. People with Type 1 diabetes
who are pregnant or are planning a
pregnancy are also eligible, because
blood glucose levels are harder to
manage during this time. In total,
around 105,000 of the 278,000 people
in England and Wales who are living
with Type 1 diabetes could be offered
the technology.
Professor Partha Kar OBE,
national specialty advisor for
diabetes at NHS England, said: "This
technology has been proven to give
the best control for managing Type 1
diabetes and should make things like
amputations, blindness, and kidney
problems possibly a thing of the
past. We have seen fantastic results
from the real-world trials which have
taken place and thank you to NICE
for their review of the evidence and
subsequent conclusions. The quality
of life this technology gives to those
using it is huge."
To read more, CLICK HERE.
Reduce need joint
replacement?
New data suggests that Metformin may help reduce risk for total joint
replacement in patients with Type 2 diabetes.
According to findings published in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal, the study included 20,347 metformin-treated participants
diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and 20,347 nonusers. Metformin users
tended to have more severe diabetes, but only about 16% in both groups
had osteoarthritis. However, compared with nonusers, Metformin users
had had a 30% lower risk of total knee or hip replacement over a 24-month
follow-up period.
Tandem
acquires Sigi
pump
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. has
entered into a definitive agreement
to acquire AMF Medical SA, the
privately held Swiss developer of
the Sigi™ Patch Pump.
The Sigi Patch Pump, which
is not yet commercially available,
is designed to be an ergonomic,
rechargeable patch pump that
reduces the burden of managing
diabetes through its use of prefilled
insulin cartridges and its
compatibility with automated
insulin delivery technology.
"This acquisition supports
our commitment to drive growth
through innovation, as AMF Medical
has novel technology and a shared
passion for creating easy-to-use
solutions to improve the lives of
people with diabetes," said John
Sheridan, Tandem Diabetes Care
president and CEO.
New obesity
drugs
Finding effective and safe
drugs that can tackle obesity -
achieving a substantial amount of
weight loss without serious side
effects - has proved challenging
to date. In the United States,
Wegovy (semaglutide), a onceweekly
injection, was approved
by the FDA in June 2021. The
same drug, at a lower dose
and known as Ozempic had
also been approved in January
2020 for improving glucose
regulation in diabetes. The latest
drug on fast track for imminent
approval at the FDA is tirzepatide
(Mounjaro), following its approval
for diabetes in May 2022.
Both of these drugs have
undergone randomized, placebocontrolled
trials for obesity, with
marked reduction of weight
being achieved: Tirzepatide, at
dose of 10 to 15 mg per week,
achieved >20% body weight
reduction while Semaglutide, at a
dose of 2.4 mg per week achieved
a ~17% reduction.
Furthermore, both drugs
have achieved other very
favorable effects, including the
reduction of blood pressure and
- in randomized trials among
people with Type 2 diabetes -
an HbA1c reduction of at least 2
percentage points.