8
NEWS
Slowing T1D
progression
Drugs that are already approved for
other purposes are showing promise
in slowing disease progression
in people with new-onset Type 1
diabetes, according to the results of
three clinical trials presented at the
European Association for the Study of
Diabetes (EASD) 2025 Annual Meeting.
The MELD-ATG trial looked
at using the transplantation drug
antithymocyte globulin (ATG);
the Ver-A-T1D trial tested the old
antihypertensive drug verapamil, and
the BANDIT study assessed the impact
of the oral JAK inhibitor baricitinib,
currently used to treat other
autoimmune diseases. Trial results
varied, but all therapies demonstrated
potential for preserving beta cell
function, although insulin treatment is
still required.
"We're seeing increasing numbers
of disease-modifying therapies
in stage 3 [clinical T1D] that show
effectiveness and safety. Therefore,
we know that if we can control the
immune pathway, we can also save
the remaining beta cells," co-session
moderator Sanjoy Dutta, PhD, chief
scientific officer of Breakthrough
T1D (formerly JDRF) told Medscape
Medical News. "We'll continue to have
to treat the glucose, but the hope is
that because these medications slow
down the immune system or protect
the beta cells or both, a person with
T1D would need less insulin."
Sweeteners linked to
cognitive decline
A new study, published in Neurology, observed adults of age 35 and over
in Brazil over the course of eight years and found links between sugar
substitution and brain health.
Higher users of sugar substitutes saw a 62% faster decline in overall
thinking and memory skills and a 173% faster decline in verbal fluency,
compared to the lowest consumers of these substitutes.
Seven low and no-calorie sweeteners were investigated in the study:
Aspartame, Saccharin, Acesulfame K, Erythritol, Sorbitol, Xylitol and Tagatose.
The lowest group in the study consumed 20mg daily and the highest group
consumed 191mg (equivalent to one can of diet soda containing Aspartame).
The higher risk groups were found to be people under 60 and those with
diabetes (who saw a greater memory decline risk).
The study's authors recommended that the best practise was to limit
artificial sweetener consumption, avoid daily use where possible, choose natural
flavour enhancers (such as fruit, honey and spices), focus on whole foods and a
balanced diet and to consider long term brain health in dietary choices.
780G system approved in T2D
The FDA has approved Medtronic's MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery
(AID) system for use in Type 2 diabetes. At the same time, FDA also cleared
the MiniMed SmartGuard algorithm as an "interoperable automated glycemic
controller," which enables integration with a new sensor called Instinct
for Type 1 diabetes. The Instinct, made by Abbott specifically for use with
MiniMed AID and smart pen products, is smaller than currently marketed
sensors and lasts up to 15 days.
The MiniMed 780G system is available for people with Type 1 diabetes aged 7
years or older and for adults aged 18 years or older with insulin-requiring Type
2 diabetes, with the company's Guardian 4 sensor and the Simplera Sync sensor.
Medtronic and Abbott are working to finalize the regulatory process so
that the Instinct sensor can be ordered with the MiniMed 780 for T1D first.
After that, Medtronic will submit an application for the use of the MiniMed
780G integration with the Instinct for T2D.
Other AIDs, including the Omnipod 5 and the Control-IQ+ algorithm used
with Tandem's t:slim X2 and Mobi insulin pumps, have also been cleared for
use in T2D.
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