Gone are the days when new insulin pumps were announced every 5 years. These days, it's a new pump every other month and a new CGM in between! Granted, we can't get them all in Australia yet, but the rate of progress (and competition) has really ramped up in the last few years. So here's the wrap-up of the big ones from this year.
Medtronic's 7-Day Infusion Sets
Infusion sets hadn't really changed in 20 years until this one came out. Back when I got my first pump (2002! 🙈) they lasted 3 days as well, and that same infusion set is still available to order today! So to be able to go a week between set changes is a game changer, not to mention this new firing mechanism.
Unfortunately this infusion set is only available to people using Medtronic pumps, but now that it's out, I'm sure every other pump company will be scrambling to match it.
Despite the fantastic algorithm that the 780G pump has, people tend to shy away from it because of the size. But with the algorithm and the infusion sets, they're a lot more compelling.
You can read more about my experience of using the infusion set in my blog post review of the 780G pump, as well as watch the video I posted to our Facebook groups below.
Dexcom G7
It's the CGM we've all been waiting for... but can't actually start using yet (unless you want to pay $100 per sensor).
The Dexcom G7 was released in October and boasts a 30 minute warmup time, is 60% smaller than the G6, and gives you the ability to silence all alerts for up to 6 hours!
Benjamin (the Dia-boss) wore the G7 for 10 days and wrote a complete review based on his experience. You can check it out here.
Omnipod 5
Every time I think about the release of this device, I can't help but think of the Old El Paso ad: "Por que no los dos?" (Why not have both?). Omnipod 5 will be the first tubeless pump with an algorithm*, so you won't have to choose between one or the other.
The pump lets the user choose glucose targets between 6.1 and 8.3 mmol/L and will automatically upload all pump and glucose data to Insulet's new cloud service.
The latest rumours put the release in March 2025. Regardless of whether you're new to Omnipod upgrading from the DASH, you'll need to get trained and signed off by a diabetes educator before you can start using it.
The Family Centre will be holding a launch event when the time comes. In the meantime, you can read my complete blog article on Omnipod 5 here, or listen to the episode Triple Threat of the Life in Beta podcast (below).
On a related note, an iPhone app has been released in the US for Omnipod 5 which allows the user to control every feature of the pump, and removes the need for the controller device. Hopefully we see it in Australia soon, but nothing from the rumour mill about this yet...
*Commerically-available algorithm. If you're already running a DIY algorithm using Omnipod DASH, rock on!
Luna pump
OK, this one took me a little while you wrap my head around... but I think people on injections are going to love this (once it's available in Australia and the NDSS have wrapped their heads around how to fund it!).
It's a tiny patch pump (about the size of a Dexcom G6) designed for people on injections, and its sole job is to deliver correction doses to keep you in range overnight. It holds just 10 units of insulin and is disposable - you put it on before bed and throw it away the next morning.
Each night, you take your basal insulin dose at night, as usual. Meanwhile, the pump companion smartphone app receives data from your CGM and tells the pump to deliver correction boluses to keep you in range overnight.
If it works as advertised (and the clinical trials had users in range >90% of the time overnight) this means sleeping through the night for people on injections, without having to be attached to more technology during the day.
This announcement came towards the end of the year, and isn't yet available in any jurisdiction... but it's expected to launch first in the USA.
Niia Insulin Pump (and CGM!)
Well... someone's finally cracked it. They've managed to put a pump and a CGM into one device!
It's tubeless, can be worn for 5 days, and holds 300 units of insulin (up from the 180 that the Omnipod holds).
There's three planned variants of the pump:
niia essential: think of this like the Omnipod DASH. It doesn't have an algorithm; it will deliver your pro-programmed basal rates and you bolus and correct when you need to.
niia advanced: controllable from a smartphone, has "more user options" (whatever that means!) and can be connected to an external CGM.
niia signature: this is the version with an integrated CGM, and will come with an algorithm to help regulate blood sugar levels.
There's currently no timeline on a release date for any version of the pumps...
You can see a demo of the pump being filled and attached to the wearer, along with Carly's very excited commentary from the Life in Beta podcast, below.
Eversense - the one-year CGM
The eversense CGM is the only CGM that sits under the skin. It takes about 10 minutes to insert it, a procedure performed by a trained doctor; it's very similar to getting an Implanon contraceptive device inserted.
The piece that's inserted under the skin is the actual sensor; the transmitter is a separate device that rests on top of the skin and powers the sensor wirelessly - similar to how tap-and-pay works. The transmitter is rechargeable; the idea is that you remove it daily (probably while you shower) and then attach pop it back on and go about your day. Because the tape only needs to hold the transmitter in place for 24 hours, they've gone with a soft silicone-based material that is easy to remove and replace, and doesn't leave any residue behind.
Eversense has been available in the USA for a couple of years. They recently received FDA clearance for the product to be used for a year before needing replacing (it was previously 6 months); the device now also has iCGM status, which means it can be used as part of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. There's no sign of it being submitted to the TGA here in Australia yet.
What about 2025?
As usual, there's a big difference between an announcement and the product actually being available. Omnipod 5 is rumoured to being availalbe in March 2025, and although you can technically buy Dexcom G7 now, it's not yet subsidised by the NDSS, so it won't be within reach of most people until next year also. Other than that...
Insulin Pump Government Subsidies
Following the recommendations to government about equitable access to diabetes technologies, we're crossing our fingers that some of those recommendations will be given the green light in 2025. This will mean that more people can access insulin pumps if they choose to. On the Life in Beta podcast, we sat down with Diabetes Australia CEO Justine Cain to go through what was proposed. You can watch a snippet below.
You can listen to the complete interview as part of the episode Dragged, Kicking and Screaming.
'Bolus from Phone' for the Tandem x:2 Pump
This feature has been out in the USA for several months, and rumour has it that it's sitting with the TGA for approval here in Australia.
CamAPS FX App for iOS
Not to be a party-pooper, but this one is doubtful. It hasn't been released in any other country yet, and we all know that we're never first on the list!
Diabetes Ttchnology is moving at an alarming pace these days, so I'm sure there'll be many exciting announcements in 2025. Watch this space; we'll keep you posted.
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