Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives

Luna Automated Insulin Delivery, With Jon Brilliant and John Sjölund


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Key Episode Timestamps

00:00:05 Introduction and Background of Luna Diabetes
00:02:27 Overview of Luna and Its Unique Features
00:04:58 Details of Luna's Functionality and User Experience
00:14:24 Clinical Trials and Feasibility Study Results
00:20:49 Potential Applications and Future Directions
00:24:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Diabetes Dialogue, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and co-director of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center, sit down with John Sjölund and Jon Brilliant, co-founders of Luna Diabetes, to explore their novel approach to automated insulin delivery (AID) designed specifically for individuals with diabetes using insulin pens.

The discussion introduces Luna, a small, wearable overnight patch pump that delivers automated insulin microdoses during sleep, addressing one of the most persistent gaps in diabetes care: nighttime glucose variability.

Unlike traditional AID systems that require full-day pump use, Luna is built for simplicity and intermittent use. It integrates with any continuous glucose monitor (CGM), requires no input on insulin type, and adapts automatically without user-programmed settings. The system supplements a patient’s existing basal insulin, providing algorithm-driven microdoses of rapid-acting insulin at night. The device operates with minimal user interaction—patients fill the pod with up to 10 units of insulin, apply it before bed, and remove it in the morning.

Preliminary data from Luna’s feasibility study showed promising results: an average 10% increase in time-in-range and a 15% reduction in time spent above 250 mg/dL, without increased hypoglycemia. The ongoing pivotal trial, enrolling 120 participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D), aims to further evaluate safety, efficacy, and patient-reported outcomes, particularly sleep quality, across 13 weeks. 

Sjölund and Brilliant emphasized Luna isn't designed to match the full clinical performance of traditional AID systems, but rather to expand access by lowering barriers—providing improved overnight control and reducing cognitive and emotional diabetes burden, especially for those who prefer to avoid pumps.

Isaacs and Bellini highlighted Luna’s potential not only for people with type 1 diabetes but also for those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly in conjunction with GLP-1 therapies or for patients early in their insulin journey. Luna's no-training-required model could also enable broader adoption in primary care settings, where most diabetes management occurs.

Relevant disclosures for Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Provention Bio, and others.

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