Diabetes Dialogue: Celebrating 2024 - The Year of the Continuous Glucose Monitor

Published on: December 16, 2024

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES, Natalie Bellini, DNP, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCE

In this episode, hosts reflect on the advancement in CGM that reshaped care for diabetes and overall health during 2024.

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!

Welcome to this special edition of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, and Real-World Perspectives, hosted by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector 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.

Included as part of the HCPLive This Year in Medicine series, this episode recaps headlines and practice updates related to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) from the past year, with a focus on regulatory news from Medtronic, Dexcom, Abbott, and Senseonics. In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a CGM device in 1999, hosts also provide historic context for each company spotlighted during the episode.

Medtronic

To begin the episode, hosts start where the journey began: the FDA approval of the MiniMed in June 1999. In the 25 years since, MiniMed was acquired by Medtronic but has continued to remain among the leaders in CGM technology. During their conversation, hosts spend time discussing early experiences with CGM as well as newer advances from Medtronic, including the 2024 approval of the Simplera CGM.

Dexcom

Conversation around Dexcom ranges from the company’s STS sensor in 2006 to the current G7 model as well as integration with pumps like the OmniPod 5, T:slim X2, and the Islet. When discussing news from 2024 from Dexcom, hosts call attention to the partnership with the Oura Ring and the launch of Stelo, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter CGM.

Abbott

Next, hosts dive into advancements from Abbott—starting with the Navigator and advancing to the Libre, including the Libre 3 plus, which features real-time data and 15-day wear. The hosts also celebrate Abbott’s collaborations with Tidepool and major insulin pump manufacturers as well as the FDA clearance of the Lingo and Libre Rio.

Senseonics

The episode concludes with a discussion of Senseonics’ Eversense CGM, the only FDA-approved implantable CGM. As the hosts highlight, Eversense has progressed over the years from a 90-day sensor to the groundbreaking 365-day wear system, which received approval in 2024. The hosts also highlight the potential of future developments, such as eliminating the external transmitter for a fully implantable design.