Products & Tech | Page 17 of 63

UnitedHealthcare, We Need Insulin Pump Choices

In its May bulletin to healthcare providers, UnitedHealthcare (@myUHC) announced that, starting July 1st 2016, Medtronic would be its “preferred” in-network provider of insulin pumps for its adult customers with Type 1 diabetes. This means that, with a few exceptions, if you’ve got Type 1 diabetes and health insurance from United, your next pump is going to be Medtronic. And since United is the nation’s largest insurance company, it’s conceivable that other insurance companies will follow suit.

Bloodless Glucose Testing Moves Closer to Reality

A bloodless way to test blood sugar has long been the stuff of science fiction. But, now, a group of researchers in Wales is moving an innovative idea of drawing blood without puncturing the skin from the conceptual world of Star Trek to perhaps being available at a pharmacy down the street.

Your Insulin May Be Getting Smarter

JDRF, partnered with Sanofi, the company that manufactures Lantus among other insulins, recently pledged up to $4.6 million to support research into four different efforts to design a glucose-responsive insulin.

Want to Test Drive a CGM?

I learned about a trial with Medtronic's iPro, a clinical version of a CGM, that's inserted in the endocrinologist's office, worn for three days, and then returned to the doctor. The data is then uploaded and analyzed to determine sufficient need for a CGM, warranting coverage by insurance.