It's In the News - a look at the top diabetes headlines and stories happening now. Our top stories: More information about type 1 and COVID, including the vaccine, why is the latest GLP-1 medication, not yet FDA approved, showing up all over the place, what table sugar and vinegar could mean for drug costs, a new inhaled insulin study and much more
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Transcript & links:
Okay.. our top story this week:
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A large Swedish study found that the increased risk of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after COVID-19 infection is mostly limited to the first 30 days after infection and does not continue long term. Researchers followed nearly the entire Swedish population under age 80 from 2020 through 2023 and found that while SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a temporary rise in new type 1 diabetes diagnoses, the risk declined over time.
The study also found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination increases the long-term risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Vaccination did not significantly change the relationship between COVID-19 infection and diabetes risk, and any small increase in diagnoses seen among adults shortly after a first vaccine dose was not seen after later doses or during longer follow-up. The researchers concluded that their findings do not support changing current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations because of concerns about type 1 diabetes risk.
https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/news/covid19-infection-may-increase-short-term-type-1-diabetes-risk/
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Two new studies are challenging the traditional view that type 1 diabetes develops solely because the immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells. Researchers from Indiana University found evidence that beta cells themselves may play an active role in determining whether they survive or succumb to the stresses that lead to type 1 diabetes.
In the first study, scientists discovered that some healthy human beta cells can quickly activate an antiviral defense system when exposed to interferon-alpha, an immune signal often produced during viral infections. This response relies on molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are usually associated with cell damage but, in this case, appeared to help switch on protective antiviral genes. Researchers found this defense program in healthy cells and in people at risk for type 1 diabetes, but not in beta cells from people who already had the disease. The findings suggest that losing this built-in defense mechanism may make beta cells more vulnerable during the development of type 1 diabetes.
The second study focused on autophagy, the process cells use to recycle damaged or worn-out components. Using a new imaging technique, researchers observed that beta cells in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes showed defects in autophagy before blood sugar levels began to rise and even before a full immune attack was underway. This suggests that problems inside the beta cells may occur early in the disease process rather than being caused entirely by the immune system.
Together, the studies point to a more complex picture of type 1 diabetes. While they do not show that beta-cell defects cause the disease, they suggest that differences in how beta cells respond to stress, viral signals, and cellular damage may influence who develops type 1 diabetes and how the disease progresses.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-beta-cells-players-diabetes.html
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Researchers have created the most detailed map yet of how the human pancreas develops during childhood, offering new clues about why children are especially vulnerable to developing diabetes. The study, published in Nature Communications, examined pancreatic tissue from 123 children without diabetes, ranging from newborns through age 10. Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists tracked how insulin-producing islet cells grow and mature during the first decade of life.
The researchers found that pancreas size varies dramatically at birth, with some infants having pancreases nearly four times larger than others. They also discovered that insulin-producing beta cells grow more slowly after birth than previously thought, suggesting that much of a person's lifelong beta cell capacity may be established before birth and during early childhood. Other findings showed that insulin-producing cells mature earlier than glucagon-producing cells and that new hormone-producing cells may continue to form after birth. The researchers hope this new understanding of pancreas development will help scientists identify diabetes risk earlier and develop better strategies for prevention and treatment in children.
https://news.vumc.org/2026/06/29/unlocking-diabetes-secrets-pediatric-organ-donors-help-map-a-path-to-a-cure-and-prevention/
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At the American Diabetes Association annual meeting, 2-year results from the SUPPRESS-EARLY trial showed that initiating tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) early in the course of type 2 diabetes led to substantially higher rates of near-normal glycemic control and also led to broader metabolic improvements compared with intensive conventional therapy.
In this MedPage Today video, investigator Stefano Del Prato, MD, of the University of Pisa in Italy, discusses the findings.
Following is a transcript of his remarks:
What happened is that in the tirzepatide-treated arm, 85% of the population at the end of the second year was on the maximum dose of tirzepatide 15 mg. And then the remaining 15 with the different doses.
Interestingly, in the population that had been treated with the intensive conventional approach, 85% of them ended up to have, on top of metformin, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mainly represented by subcutaneous semaglutide [Ozempic, Wegovy], 60+%, another 15% on oral semaglutide [Rybelsus], and the remaining on dulaglutide [Trulicity].
And I have to say that maybe the recommendation to really push along the line to try to achieve and to strive to achieve [glycemic] control was successful in these individuals. Because the population that had been recruited in the study started off with a baseline A1C of 7.8% and it went down to 6.3% in the conventionally intensive treatment, which is not bad at all, on average is below the target of 6.5%.
However, when we look at the effect of tirzepatide, the final level of A1C at the end of the second year was 5.6%, which is on average below the upper limit of the normal range for A1C, 5.7%. This also translates into more people not only achieving normal glycemia, if we can define normal glycemia as A1C below 5.7%, greater than what we observed in conventionally treated individuals. So it was around three times more people achieving an A1C of 5.7%, in the range of around 65%, as compared to 28% with people on a conventional optimized treatment.
Now, this is not surprising knowing the potency of tirzepatide. But again, going back to the rationale of the design, can we change what is the natural history of the disease? This seems to be at least of interest and it's possibly changing the trajectory of the disease for glycemic control, as I mentioned, but also in terms of the body weight and waist circumference because both body weight and waist circumference went much lower with tirzepatide compared to the conventional treatment.
Tirzepatide also was associated with an improvement in the lipid profile, in particular with the LDL, triglycerides, and the triglyceride concentration and non-HDL cholesterol, and also with a statistically significantly lower systolic blood pressure with a numerical reduction in the diastolic blood pressure.
And also the other thing that probably will ... become more apparent with the study continuing is that the investigators were allowed to add on any other treatment ... needed to achieve their target. So tirzepatide was just metformin and tirzepatide. In the control group, there was already 10% of people who were receiving two drugs on top of the metformin.
So another potential result of the trial is that it's possible to achieve and maintain better glycemic or better metabolic control over the time without really needing to increase the number of medications in order to achieve that goal. And we know that type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition often requiring intensification of the treatment.
So these initial results really stand for a great opportunity with tirzepatide. Of course, we need to wait for the 4 years just to confirm that this is indeed the case, but the initial result seems to point along that line.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/meetingcoverage/adavideopearls/121967
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A study from the University of Virginia found that high blood pressure is extremely common among people with diabetes, even among those who believe their blood pressure is under control. Researchers measured blood pressure in 172 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes during routine eye clinic visits and found that only 8% had normal readings. About half had stage 2 hypertension, and more than 10% had blood pressure levels high enough to be considered a medical emergency.
The study also revealed that many patients were unaware of how serious their blood pressure problems were. Among those who thought their hypertension was well controlled, more than half still had stage 2 hypertension. Nearly 60% of participants were advised to contact their primary care provider, and one patient required an emergency department referral. Most patients supported blood pressure screening during eye exams, leading researchers to suggest that routine blood pressure checks in ophthalmology clinics could help identify undiagnosed or poorly controlled hypertension before it leads to serious complications such as heart attack, stroke, or worsening diabetic eye disease.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-routine-eye-exams-reveal-stage.html
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What is going on with retatrutide? This is the next generation GLP-1 but it's not authorized outside of clinical trials. Big investigation by CBS shows retatrutide is for sale all over the internet, a phenomenon they say has no modern precedent.
CBS News identified more than 120 websites selling or promoting retatrutide, including more than 50 clinics staffed by licensed medical professionals. After being contacted by CBS News, at least 21 clinics abruptly removed retatrutide from their websites or changed the language to state they don't offer it. Others defended prescribing it, saying they're confident enough in results from clinical trials sponsored by drugmaker Eli Lilly that they didn't need to wait for the FDA's independent, rigorous review.
An FDA spokesperson said retatrutide "has not been found safe or effective for any condition," adding that it "cannot be manufactured or distributed except for investigational use."
The Justice Department is prosecuting two cases – in Utah and Florida – involving the sale and prescription of retatrutide. But the first line of enforcement is often at the state level. Ohio's Board of Pharmacy has taken action against several pharmacies and clinics providing retatrutide, and just last month, Alabama's Medical Board warned physicians against prescribing research-grade medications.
The FDA has sent 14 warning letters to companies that have advertised retatrutide since 2024. Of these, at least six have continued to offer it online, including a business called Pink Pony Peptides. A TikTok account associated with the firm responded to the warning in April by taunting the FDA, boasting that the business "just had the best 24 hours ever."
In May, Eli Lilly announced that participants in a large clinical trial taking the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 28% of their body weight over 80 weeks. Side effects – including nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting – were comparable to similar therapies, the company said.
"Anyone purporting to sell retatrutide to consumers is breaking the law," an Eli Lilly spokesperson said
https://www.cbsnews.com/projects/2026/experimental-weight-loss-drug/
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Pioneering research has developed a new way of creating carbohydrate-based medicines, which could ultimately replace costly drugs for common health conditions, using two cheap basic ingredients – table sugar and vinegar.
These medications include SGLT2 inhibitors, widely prescribed drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
Co-lead author Professor Phil Baran, Dr. Richard A. Lerner Endowed Chair at Scripps Research, in San Diego, California, said: "The point of this is to show that anyone in a garage can make an SGLT2 inhibitor with reagents that are widely available. We have not patented this method, so we welcome any generic drug company – or anyone else – who wants to use it to help bring costs down for patients."
https://www.newswise.com/articles/new-study-shows-table-sugar-could-hold-a-cheaper-quicker-key-to-making-vital-drugs-for-diabetes-heart-failure-and-chronic-kidney-disease
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England and Wales approve teplizumab to slow progression of T1D.
At the moment, the Scottish Medicines Consortium does not have an appraisal of Tzield on the go, so, there is likely to be a disparity in access within the UK for the time being. In Northern Ireland, access will depend on a review and adoption of NICE guidance.
Sanofi is expecting to see an uptick in momentum thanks to two subsequent FDA approvals, one in children as young as one with stage 2 T1D, and a second to delay the decline in endogenous insulin production in children aged eight to 17 years recently diagnosed with stage 3 T1D. btw you might here more people referring to stage 4 diabetes. They've added that to include people diagnosed with type 1 who've been on insulin for a longer period of time – basically long enough to not be eligible for the current guidelines for Tzield.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8mzd94r76oXX
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Obesity Association, a division of the American Diabetes Association® (the association), announced the next section in the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity, "Screening, Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Staging of Obesity in Adults," published in Diabetes, Obesity, and CardioMetabolic CARE® and BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care.
Key highlights of the guidance:
Early screening: Annual BMI screening with emphasis on tracking weight trends to identify risk earlier, including a longitudinal life-event weight graph tool for standardized assessment.
Enhanced diagnosis: Combines BMI with waist measurements and population-specific thresholds to improve accuracy. Notably, the guidelines recommend that BMI in the overweight range together with central adiposity measurements warrant a formal obesity diagnosis.
Comprehensive evaluation: Holistic assessment including medical, behavioral, and social factors. Offers a fully integrated obesity diagnostic algorithm.
Risk stratification: Use of tools like the Edmonton Obesity Staging System to guide care.
Chronic care approach: Ongoing monitoring and follow-up to support long-term management.
Reducing bias: Promotes person-centered, non-stigmatizing care and system-level improvements at the clinical workflow level and encourages screening for prior weight bias/stigma experiences.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-standards-of-care-in-overweight-and-obesity-section-screening-diagnosis-evaluation-and-staging-of-obesity-in-adults-302809670.html
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Dexcom (Nadsaq:DXCM) today announced the launch of its fully reimagined Stelo over-the-counter (OTC) sensor app experience. San Diego-based Dexcom plans to formally begin the new app rollout in July for Apple iPhone and Android users in the U.S.
Dexcom said its reimagined app aims to make glucose insights easier to understand and act on. It hopes to help build awareness of how food, activity, sleep and stress influence overall wellbeing.
The company also reiterated plans to launch Stelo internationally. It expects to bring the sensor to the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea later this year, continuing into 2027.
https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/dexcom-launches-enhanced-stelo-app/
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MannKind Corporation recently announced it received a grant from Breakthrough T1D to support the INHALE-1 clinical study of Afrezza, its ultra rapid-acting inhaled insulin, in newly diagnosed pediatric type 1 diabetes patients aged 10 to under 18 years.
This external funding for a trial focused on early use of Afrezza in children highlights growing third-party support for inhaled insulin in pediatric diabetes care.
https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/pharmaceuticals-biotech/nasdaq-mnkd/mannkind/news/afrezza-pediatric-trial-grant-might-change-the-case-for-inve
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Alexander Zverev heads into Wimbledon with plenty of momentum. The French Open champion returns to the All England Club looking to build on his first Grand Slam title and gain ground on Carlos Alcaraz in the race for the No. 2 spot in the ATP rankings. Zverev has an opportunity to make up points quickly after a first-round exit at Wimbledon last year.
But his final tune-up before Wimbledon came with an unexpected challenge. During his semifinal loss to Taylor Fritz at the Halle Open, Zverev said a malfunctioning glucose sensor led to serious diabetes management issues on court. The sensor incorrectly showed his blood sugar was high when it was actually low, causing him to take more insulin than needed.
"I had huge problems with the sugar because the sensor I use gave me a completely incorrect reading," Zverev said after the match. "During the match, or rather during the first 45 minutes, I had to consume about 350 grams of sugar. I felt absolutely terrible."
Despite feeling unwell, Zverev pushed the match to three sets before falling 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5 to Fritz. He credited his opponent with playing the better match and said the diabetes-related issue was not an excuse for the result.
Zverev, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4, uses Medtronic diabetes technology to help manage his glucose levels while competing on the ATP Tour. He said the sensor error was the first major problem he has experienced after nearly a decade of using the technology.
The German said the incident should not affect his Wimbledon preparations. With the sensor issue behind him, Zverev will begin his Wimbledon campaign focused on adding another strong result to what has already been a breakthrough season.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/zverev-says-glucose-sensor-malfunction-affected-halle-semi-final-loss-fritz-2026-06-21/
