Mary Tyler Moore Dead at 80
Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 33...
NEW YORK (AP) — Mary Tyler Moore, the star of TV's beloved "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" whose comic realism helped revolutionize the depiction of women on the small screen, has died.
Moore died Wednesday with her husband and friends nearby, her publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said. She was 80.
Moore gained fame in the 1960s as the frazzled wife Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show." In the 1970s, she created one of TV's first career-woman sitcom heroines in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
She won seven Emmy awards over the years and was nominated for an Oscar for her 1980 portrayal of an affluent mother whose son is accidentally killed in "Ordinary People."
She had battled diabetes for many years. In 2011, she underwent surgery to remove a benign tumor on the lining of her brain.
The entire AP article is here.
Decision Moves Continuous Glucose Monitors One Step Closer to Medicare Coverage
great news from JDRF.org !!
January 12, 2017
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices approved by the FDA for use in making diabetes treatment decisions are durable medical equipment, according to a decision today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That determination removed a major roadblock to the devices’ coverage under Medicare. Today’s decisions mean that CGMs approved by the FDA for use in making diabetes treatment decisions are eligible for reimbursement under Medicare.
Today’s decision creates a pathway for Medicare coverage for the devices that will bring the nation’s largest insurer in line with the vast majority of the country’s private payers. Although the significant benefits of CGM use have been known since 2008, CMS had previously refused to consider covering the devices under Medicare, saying they did not meet the statutory definitions of durable medical equipment or any other category the agency could cover. Today’s decision removes that impediment.
“JDRF is encouraged by this decision, which will bring us closer to Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitors,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, PhD, JDRF’s Chief Mission Officer. “I want to thank the tireless JDRF advocates and Congressional champions who have made this progress possible.”
the entire press release can be found here on the JDRF website
Dexcom G5 Mobile Gains Apple Watch Complications!
Do you know what watch complications are?
Complications are the newest feature for the Apple Watch app. Dexcom G5 users with an Apple Watch can choose from 4 different watch faces and by just lifting their wrist they can quickly and easily see their glucose level and trend arrow.
“Complications are small visual elements on the watch face that communicate important information to the user. The term complication comes from watch making, where the addition of features added complexity to the watch construction. Complications are visible whenever the user looks at the watch face, and users can customize which complications are displayed. The number of slots available for complications on a given watch face varies, but most support at least two or three complications.”
Dexcom representatives told me....
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"We have seen many social media posts indicating that our users have purchased the Apple Watch primarily because Dexcom CGM glucose data is available on the watch. We are excited that this release will allow our users with an Apple Watch even greater convenience for those who want this important information in an easy-to-use and discreet form."
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"Close collaboration took place with Apple to get the watch platform to support our use case of 288 updates/day to make this feature possible for CGM. The Dexcom Watch Face was shown at last year’s World Wide Developers Conference in September, and its currently being promoted on Apple’s website in two locations, (1) on great new features of watchOS3, and (2) third-party ecosystems that make the Apple Watch great. Below are screenshots from both of Apple’s website locations."
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"As part of Dexcom’s commitment of continuous improvement in the quality and user experience of our apps, the 1.6 release also includes several sustaining improvements and enhancements."
Dexcom apps are available for iOS here.
Click here to learn more about Dexcom
Dexcom G5 App v1.6 and Apple Watch running watchOS 3 or later required. US only.
FDA: No Fingerstick Needed with Dexcom G5 CGM
by John Gever
Managing Editor, MedPage TodayDecember 20, 2016
WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved an expanded indication for Dexcom's G5 Mobile continuous glucose monitor, allowing it to be used alone without supplementary fingerstick glucose testing.
"This is the first FDA-approved continuous glucose monitoring system that can be used to make diabetes treatment decisions without confirmation with a traditional fingerstick test," the agency said in announcing the decision. Previously, the system had been approved as an adjunct to fingerstick testing.
But the new approval does not mean patients can forget about fingerstick testing entirely. "Users are warned that the system must be calibrated using a fingerstick blood sample at least once every 12 hours," the FDA stressed.
In deciding to expand the indication, the FDA relied on findings from two 7-day clinical trials involving a total of 130 adults and children as young as 2. Results from the continuous monitor were compared with those from standard fingerstick meters and from lab tests of blood glucose. Those studies indicated that the continuous monitor was accurate enough to be used alone to guide treatment.
The FDA noted that the device still comes with risks including hyper- and hypoglycemia stemming from inaccurate readings. Also, redness and irritation may occur at the site where the device's skin patch is applied.
The agency also indicated that acetaminophen-containing products can "falsely raise glucose readings" from the device.
Omnipod of the Future Revealed
Omnipod had a shareholder meeting this week and the slideshow that accompanied it was full of interesting stuff...
Timeline for new products and innovation
Exciting!
Relationship with Lilly to bring concentrated insulin
Looks like concentrated insulin keeps form factor small while adding enough insulin for people with greater needs...
New Bluetooth PDM and an Artificial Pancreas
Looks like the plan is to first release the Dash (new PDM) followed by the Horizon Artificial Pancreas system...
The entire slide deck can be found here, it has lots more info and business type stuff. I only brought you the exciting diabetes tech images. I need to get an Omnipod representative back on the Juicebox podcast. Good times ahead folks, good times! Lots of questions...