What You Should Know: 

– DaVita Inc. and Google Cloud are teaming up to create a new clinical operating system that sets a foundation for streamlined kidney care for more than 200,000 DaVita patients.

– Built on Google Cloud infrastructure and utilizing AI and analytics tools co-developed by the two companies, DaVita’s Center Without Walls (CWOW) is now live across the organization’s 2,700+ dialysis centers nationwide. 

– With the deployment, DaVita has moved from a decentralized clinical documentation system to a unified platform that leverages data from more than 30 million dialysis treatments per year to generate insights designed to help improve clinical outcomes.

Customized Clinical Operating System Designed to Transform Kidney Care

CKD affects more than 1 in 7 adults in the United States, an estimated 37 million Americans, and as many as 9 in 10 adults who have CKD are not aware they have the disease2. Currently, an estimated 50% of people diagnosed with kidney failure “crash” into dialysis—starting treatment without warning in an emergency situation3. Crashing not only causes physical and emotional stress for patients but also it costs, on average, an additional $53,000 per patient in the first year of dialysis treatment.

By creating CWOW using Google Cloud, DaVita has built a foundational platform that will enable seamless data sharing and increase collaboration between the company’s physician partners, hospitals, and internal care teams. Ultimately, the platform is designed to support DaVita’s mission to provide integrated kidney care that helps improve patient quality of life, and lower the cost of care. To effectively leverage this data, DaVita built CWOW on Cloud Spanner for scalable database management, BigQuery for analytics, and Vertex AI for AI and machine learning.

“Google is the right choice for DaVita – not only from a technical perspective, but also from a collaboration standpoint,” said Alan Cullop, DaVita’s Chief Information Officer. “Our vision for CWOW required a flexible collaborator that would be willing to iterate as we worked to address the unique needs of DaVita and kidney care. From early-stage architecture and infrastructure conversations, to AI, analytics and IT security, Google has added significant value every step of the way, and we look forward to the next stage of innovation as we continue to enhance the CWOW platform.”

What You Should Know: 

– GoodRx today announced it is working with Sanofi, a global leader in diabetes care, to offer a new way for people living with diabetes to access Lantus® (insulin glargine injection) 100 Units/mL in the U.S. for only $35.

– This collaboration builds on Sanofi’s recent announcement to lower the list price for Lantus and cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 for all patients with commercial insurance, which goes into effect January 1, 2024. It leverages GoodRx’s reach and scale to broaden access and affordability for people living with diabetes and means that, effective today, all Americans with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx at over 70,000 U.S. retail pharmacies to access a 30-day supply of Lantus for only $35. 

$35 Price Coupon: How It Works

This collaboration builds on Sanofi’s recent announcement to lower the list price for Lantus and cap out-of-pocket costs at $35 for all patients with commercial insurance, which goes into effect January 1, 2024. It leverages GoodRx’s reach and scale to broaden access and affordability for people living with diabetes and means that, effective today, all Americans with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx at over 70,000 U.S. retail pharmacies to access a 30-day supply of Lantus for only $35. 

Patients can visit GoodRx.com/lantus to access the $35 price coupon, which can be redeemed at any pharmacy that accepts GoodRx, including CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. This complements other savings programs already offered by Sanofi, including offering Lantus for $35 per month to people without insurance. GoodRx also offers supportive resources to help consumers holistically manage their condition, including discounts on continuous glucose monitors and coupons for diabetes medications, as well as a Diabetes Hub that offers diabetes-specific articles and resources written by medical experts on GoodRx Health.

“Efforts to make insulin more accessible have been at the forefront of the news for months, and a critical piece of delivering on this promise is making it as simple as possible for patients to get the lower price right at their regular pharmacy counter. Sanofi is taking action and providing Americans who need insulin with the ability to access Lantus in an easy and affordable way, regardless of insurance status. We’re proud to collaborate with them on this initiative,” said Dorothy Gemmell, Chief Commercial Officer at GoodRx.

You’ve probably heard about Ozempic, especially if you’re one of the millions who regularly scroll through TikTok or browse other social media platforms. It’s the drug that influencers are lauding as a revolutionary aid for weight loss, making it a hot topic of conversation. 

While Ozempic was initially developed to manage Type 2 diabetes, its emerging potential for weight loss is captivating medical professionals and the public alike.

How Ozempic Works: The Basics

Ozempic is a weekly injection containing the active ingredient semaglutide, FDA-approved in 2017 for adults with Type 2 diabetes. It helps control high blood sugar levels when used alongside lifestyle changes like proper diet and regular exercise. But the most intriguing discovery is its additional effect—weight loss—which is attracting interest well beyond the diabetic community.

Ozempic belongs to the class of drugs known as “GLP-1 receptor agonists.” It lowers blood glucose and stimulates insulin secretion, making it a mainstay in diabetes management. Furthermore, Ozempic also curtails the secretion of glucagon and slows down gastric emptying, which could help people feel full faster, making it an appealing option for potential weight loss prescriptions.

The Buzz on Social Media

There’s been a considerable surge in Ozempic’s popularity, fueled in part by social media influencers sharing their weight loss journeys. While Ozempic is not yet FDA-approved specifically for weight loss, some medical professionals are considering its “off-label” use as a weight-loss solution. 

It’s essential to note that its active ingredient, semaglutide, has already been approved for chronic weight management under the brand name Wegovy — which most recently, has shown positive effects on patients with heart failure — assuming the adult patient is overweight or obese and has at least one weight-related condition.

Navigating the Financials

While the enthusiasm around Ozempic’s potential is high, it’s worth mentioning that insurance usually does not cover off-label uses. Therefore, patients opting to use it for weight loss should be prepared for the cost, which could exceed $1,000 per month. 

Always Consult a Professional

While Ozempic has proven incredibly beneficial in managing Type 2 diabetes, just like any other medication, it does have its own potential set of side effects. There are some reports that have shown that Ozempic could potentially cause mild digestive side effects, among others. Therefore, consultation with a healthcare provider is critical for anyone considering Ozempic for weight loss. 

A Responsible Approach to Sharing Information

Social media has changed the way we perceive and consume medical information. While pharmaceutical companies are bound by rigorous standards and regulations, independent influencers are not held to the same criteria. In a digital age where personal testimonials can go viral and reach millions, it’s crucial for both medical professionals and social media users to share information responsibly. 

That being said, the majority of the information currently being shared regarding Ozempic’s effects is because there are clear, positive results that individuals are experiencing. At the end of the day, however, it is both the consumer’s responsibility to do their research and the company’s responsibility to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on their products. 

To this extent, social media influencers — particularly those within the healthcare space — should understand the power that they have, and always keep in mind that information should always be shared responsibly. 

A Bright Future

Ongoing evaluations are looking into Ozempic’s potential role in weight loss. While it’s currently essential for managing Type 2 diabetes, its potential extends further, possibly helping millions more in their weight loss endeavors. The key is to approach this medication responsibly, guided by proper medical advice.

So, while the future seems promising for Ozempic as a groundbreaking treatment for both diabetes and potentially obesity, consultation with healthcare providers is essential for its safe and effective use.

About George Kramb
George Kramb is the CEO and co-founder of PatientPartner, a platform he created after recognizing the anxiety patients felt before medical procedures. With a background in supporting doctors in the operating room, George saw the need for more significant support, education, and compassion for patients facing stressful medical experiences. PatientPartner connects patients in a community of empathy and support, boasting over 100 PatientPartner Mentors who share their own medical experiences to help others. George, a Bachelor of Science in Economics graduate from the University of Oregon, has been featured in prestigious publications like Inc and Forbes 30 Under 30 for Consumer Technology and is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur. Under his leadership, PatientPartner has also built a network of over 50 doctors who prioritize improving their patients’ experiences through connections with relatable individuals.

While the pandemic has slowed, there appears to be no end in sight to the diabetes epidemic. The number of individuals diagnosed is projected to keep growing over the next decade. What’s more concerning is that 75% of patients don’t meet guideline-based goals for A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol control. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications like heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and even amputations. 

Thankfully, more patients are embracing technology-based programs that provide education and engagement to help improve diabetes outcomes, such as better understanding the importance of regular blood glucose monitoring and how to interpret key metrics like hemoglobin A1c. Adding the ability to remotely share that information with their healthcare providers in between doctor’s visits ensures that appropriate actions can be taken to achieve the best possible outcomes, as well as minimize or prevent comorbidities.

Diabetes: A Growing Epidemic and Historically Self-Managed Disease

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are becoming more prevalent in our country. In fact, projections note that diagnoses of diabetes will increase by 54% by 2030, impacting nearly 55 million Americans. During this same time, the death rate is expected to grow by 38%, while medical and societal costs related to the disease will hit $622 billion annually. 

Today, more than 11% of the U.S. population – more than 37 million people – live with diabetes. There are more individuals who are on the cusp of being diagnosed, with estimates of about 38% of the population of those 18 or older having pre-diabetes. 

When individuals are diagnosed with diabetes, their primary care provider or endocrinologist becomes the quarterback of their care team. They help oversee treatment plans and provide the education patients need to take an active role in controlling their health through self-monitoring. 

However the responsibility of day-to-day monitoring and self-management still falls largely on the individual. Rather than empowering them to take control over their health, patients report self-tracking is a burden, laden with daily finger sticks and calculations of what and when to eat, and how much insulin they may need. One study even found that self-tracking can negatively impact the mental health of diabetes patients, lowering self-esteem and increasing incidences of other health problems like anxiety and depression.

Relatively new remote patient monitoring devices are changing that equation for people with diabetes, making it easier to monitor and manage their blood glucose between doctors’ visits. Wearable technology, like continuous glucose monitors, eliminates the need for frequent finger sticks. Connected blood glucose monitors and blood pressure cuffs simplify these frequent tests by automatically sharing information with healthcare providers for oversight and feedback. Smart insulin pens, connected with smartphone apps and blood glucose monitors, automatically calculate and track doses and provide patients with necessary reminders and alerts.

A Deeper Patient-Provider Connection through Remote Patient Technology

While self-tracking can play an important role in the management of diabetes, remote monitoring solutions now on the market present an immense opportunity to dramatically improve patient care. Taking data generated from an individual’s connected devices – a continuous glucose monitor and a blood pressure cuff for instance – and putting it in the context of clinical data from electronic health records (EHRs) can offer a more complete picture of the individual’s health and areas of challenge. By enabling clinicians to virtually follow the patient from the clinic to the home, technology can offer providers new insights into the patient’s condition that drive action and better outcomes. 

Bringing continuous, real-time data into the EHRs and making it accessible to the patient’s entire care team, from primary care and endocrinologists to nutritionists and pharmacists, can help the healthcare team make more precise recommendations. Further integration with advanced clinical decision support tools can help providers interpret this daily flow of data and offer even more personalized treatment recommendations.

This deeper integration of technology in the patient-provider relationship can pay valuable dividends in improving health. One study showed that patients who participated in a remote monitoring program and received real-time intervention showed improvements in HbA1c, as well as greater satisfaction with their treatment, compared to more conventional care at a specialty diabetes clinic.

These advances and integration of technologies can extend far beyond the individual level, too. Looking at data across patients, providers can get a better view of where overall gaps in care exist within their community. With this information in hand, healthcare providers can take broader actions to address common factors that are leading to and exacerbating diabetes across their population. 

Fostering the tech-enabled partnership between patients and providers is an important step in addressing the epidemic of diabetes and the complications that can occur when it is not properly managed. With actionable information on the individual level, healthcare providers can devise optimal treatment plans for their patients, and gain a better understanding of issues that may influence incidences of diabetes within their community. The insights generated from patient-generated data, combined with clinical decision support tools, have the potential to help millions of patients successfully manage their diabetes, and may reverse the growing epidemic that has been predicted. 

About Lucienne Marie

Lucienne Marie Ide, M.D., PH.D., is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rimidi, a leading clinical management platform designed to optimize clinical workflows, enhance patient experiences and achieve quality objectives. She brings her diverse experiences in medicine, science, venture capital and technology to bear in leading Rimidi’s strategy and vision. Motivated by the belief that we can do so much better as individuals, in industry and society, Lucie left clinical medicine to join the ranks of healthcare entrepreneurs who are trying to revolutionize an industry.

What You Should Know:

• Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), the largest not- for-profit health plan in the mid-Atlantic region, and Ryse Health (Ryse), an operator of specialized cardiometabolic health clinics, announced a first of its kind quality improvement partnership serving individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in CareFirst’s commercial networks.
• The program will pair Ryse providers with CareFirst members in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia with uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Ryse Health Partner to Accelerate VBC for Diabetes Patients

Ryse will combine a mix of in-person and virtual care interactions to help patients control their HbA1c and blood pressure and conduct timely diabetes-related health screenings so early detection and interventions are available. This patient-centered focus can help improve health outcomes, patient experience, and the affordability of care.

“Considered one of America’s top public health burdens, diabetes is a huge challenge for many of our members,” said Brian Wheeler, senior vice president of health services at CareFirst. “We’re excited for this partnership with Ryse, and to be implementing a hybrid management approach to diabetes care that improves access, strengthens the provider-patient relationship and supports members in a way that gives them the confidence to take control of their daily routines.”

CareFirst and Ryse began conversations in 2021, and in 2022 Ryse joined the second cohort class of 1501 Health, a national healthcare incubator program run by LifeBridge Health and Healthworx, CareFirst’s innovation and investment arm.

Both Ryse and CareFirst are driven by a value-based care system that focuses on care quality and patient health outcomes rather than the quantity of services. Ryse’s approach emphasizes frequent engagement with patients to help them improve their health. Ryse co-founder and CEO Richard Gurley said the company has observed that, on average, patients in the National Capital Area wait four months to see an endocrinologist and then often see their provider only every three to six months. Ryse strives to maintain new patient slots within two weeks, and the average Ryse patient has over 20 touchpoints with the Ryse team in their first three months. On average, Ryse patients see a 2-point decrease in hemoglobin A1c levels within 90 days and beyond, which outpaces traditional or virtual-only solutions by 50 percent or more.

What You Should Know:

• American Diabetes Association^® (ADA) and Abbott announced a collaboration a new collaboration on a pilot therapeutic nutrition program to help people living with Type 2 diabetes.
• The collaboration aims to understand how diabetes technology like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems can help people living with diabetes make informed decisions about their food and activity.

Abbott’s $2.6M Grant to Support Diabetes 

Abbott is providing a $2.65 million grant over the next three years to the ADA to enable them to:

• Engage with top healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders to evaluate existing clinical evidence on the use of CGM systems for personalized, therapeutic nutrition.
• Launch two pilot programs targeted at adults with Type 2 diabetes to gain a deeper understanding of the role a CGM can play in personalized therapeutic nutrition. These programs will leverage CGM data to understand how they help people with diabetes achieve their objectives, which include modifications to their nutritional intake and dietary habits.
• Host roundtable discussions in collaboration with renowned health care experts to review and evaluate the existing clinical evidence. These discussions will investigate the role of therapeutic nutrition using CGM data and its potential to inform nutrition recommendations.

“What people with diabetes eat is a critical part of managing their diabetes,” said Charles “Chuck” Henderson, chief executive officer of the ADA. “Personalized nutrition using CGMs has the potential to revolutionize diabetes management by providing individuals with more data and tools to manage their glucose levels, improve their quality of life, and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. The ADA is grateful to Abbott for its continued support of our mission to improve the lives of people impacted by diabetes. “

What You Should Know: 

Rimidi, a clinical management platform designed to optimize clinical workflows, enhance patient experiences and achieve quality objectives, is announcing enhancements to its diabetes management platform, including the addition of Glycemic Risk Index (GRI) as an emerging tool for patient and population outcomes management.

The inclusion of CGM data and GRI into Rimidi’s platform and clinical workflows is made possible via an enhanced integration with Dexcom, a global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes. Through the collaboration, glycemic control metrics will enable more proactive and personalized management of diabetes across populations to drive better care decisions. 

Enhanced Metrics to Advance Care Management

Specifically, the Rimidi diabetes management platform will now include metrics for: 

• Time in Range (TIR): The amount of time a patient spends in the target blood glucose range during a specified time period, often two weeks. For most patients, this is between 70 and 180 mg/dL, and is a measurement that leverages CGM data to see the number of times a patient’s blood glucose level has stayed in the target range vs. been high (hyperglycemia) or low (hypoglycemia). TIR is considered the gold standard of CGM data management and interpretation today. Rimidi presents the TIR for target glucose as well as additional categories of low, very low, high and very high glucose. 
• Glycemic Risk Index: A new actionable metric for describing the quality of glycemia in CGM tracking, developed by the Diabetes Technology Society. This metric can be used to assess how well a patient is doing over time, manage a population and predict outcomes in intervention studies. The composite score is also thought to better correlate with the risk of complications and help identify areas for therapy adjustment. The use of GRI in clinical practice is just beginning to gain adoption. 

“As continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) gains broader adoption and becomes standard of care in patients with Type 2 Diabetes and primary care, clinicians need strategies for effectively triaging their growing population of patients using CGM and identifying appropriate steps to improve glycemic control,” said Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Rimidi. “GRI is an exciting new tool in the toolkit for clinicians and Rimidi is committed to bringing this innovation into the clinical workflow.”

What You Should Know:

– Ascensia Diabetes Care, a global diabetes care company announces a landmark global collaboration with SNAQ, an award-winning app-based solution that offers key insights on food and nutrition for people with diabetes (PWDs).

– As part of the strategic collaboration, Ascensia and SNAQ will integrate their solutions to empower more PWDs to make impactful mealtime decisions, with a goal to improve diabetes management. 

Support Mealtime Decision-Making for People with Diabetes

The initial three-year collaboration extends across several phases and regions, launching first in the United States. SNAQ will be integrated with Ascensia’s most popular Bluetooth-connected BGM devices. SNAQ meal data can also be shared with GlucoContro.Online, Ascensia’s streamlined platform, enables PWDs to seamlessly access, analyze and share their diabetes data. Making this data more easily accessible to PWDs and healthcare practitioners (HCPs) can help them to monitor how different foods affect blood glucose levels and adjust treatment accordingly.

Integration Details

Users of Ascensia’s world-renowned CONTOUR BGM portfolio will now be able to seamlessly incorporate SNAQ into their diabetes management regimen, in order to make data-driven decisions about food and nutrition. Through the SNAQ app, users simply take a photo of their food and are provided with nutritional information and actionable insights to help in facilitating glycemic control. With easy-to-read graphs and comparisons to previous meals, SNAQ supports both immediate insights and long-term learning, which is reflected in its strong user retention and high app ratings.

What You Should Know:

– In an initial trial of continuous glucometer use, faulty device adhesive — a serious wearability challenge — and patient difficulty in interpreting graphs produced by the device, were noted. In a subsequent trial, 70 older adults with diabetes wore glucometers and activity monitors and used smartphones and electronic medication bottles to track and manage blood sugar over a two-week period.

– Among these 70 patients, two-thirds of whom were African American and more than half of whom were female, nearly one in four indicated that prior to the study, they had not checked blood sugar.

Problems and Impacts of Blood Sugar Monitoring Devices For the Elderly

A study conducted by Regenstrief Institute research scientists to examine the use, by older adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, of continuous glucose monitors and other wearable devices to assess and manage low blood sugar, has found that these tools pose both wearability and use problems for patients and their caregivers.

Diabetes is more common in the older population than the general population, with as many as one in five older adults having the disease. Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is especially common in people with diabetes because of their medical condition as well as the treatment that they receive for it. Both diabetes and hypoglycemia convey independent risks for dementia. Diabetes confers approximately a two-fold increased risk of dementia. The frequency of low blood sugar episodes among people with diabetes adds to the risk of dementia, independently.

Among the major findings of the study:

1. Study participants found glucose monitors and other wearable devices tricky to use, suggesting a need for device manufacturers to improve the wearability and usability of the devices.

2. Study participants were very interested in understanding their numbers (such as glucose levels) and the implications of these numbers.

3. Nearly three-quarters of the study participants had low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), suggesting the need for monitoring devices to lead to more direct and effective management of blood sugar among older adults.

“That 73 percent of those in our study had low blood sugar is extremely concerning because hypoglycemia should always be addressed.

“Although a smartphone is very commonly used with continuous glucometers, we found that when we issued smartphones to study participants, they often didn’t carry the phones with them, contributing to the fact that, during the study, one-third of daytime phone prompts about medications, behaviors, and symptoms were ignored,” said Dr. Weiner. “And while I think there is a lot of future potential to use electronic medication bottles, we found study participants didn’t use them correctly or didn’t appropriately transfer their oral medications to the bottles.”

“Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Other Wearable Devices to Assess Hypoglycemia among Older Adult Outpatients with Diabetes Mellitus” is published in the peer-reviewed Applied Clinical Informatics. The study was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

What You Should Know:

– Blue Shield of California has expanded its partnership with Virta Health to help reverse the human and financial impact of type 2 diabetes in the state. 

– The partnership marks Blue Shield as the first health plan in California to implement a digital diabetes reversal solution across multiple lines of business.

Blue Shield is first health plan in California to implement digital diabetes reversal solution across multiple lines of business.

As part of Blue Shield’s provider network, Virta will serve as just one arm of a member’s care team. Eligible Blue Shield members can choose both a traditional provider and Virta, which will work alongside traditional providers as a virtual diabetes specialist. In-network physicians can also refer their patients to Virta. To enroll in Virta, eligible members simply go to the Virta landing page on Blue Shield’s website and sign up. 

Virta Health on Wellvolution Overview

Virta uses advanced telehealth technology and clinically proven personalized nutrition to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes and other chronic metabolic diseases. BSC members who have been using Virta on Wellvolution after one year saw

– an average 7% weight loss (5% is considered clinically significant) after one year 

– have eliminated more than half of their diabetes medications (not including metformin)

– estimated A1c improved by 1.1% on average. Every-one point decrease in A1c reduces risk of long-term diabetes complications – such as eye, kidney, and nerve damage – by up to 40%.

What You Should Know:

– Omada Health and Castell, an Intermountain value-based care subsidiary, announced a first-of-its kind partnership – creating a new, integrated virtual care model to reach and help more at-risk patients through proven prevention and Diabetes programs.  

The new virtual care model expands the access of Omada’s Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Program to patients and caregivers receiving care from Intermountain Healthcare’s primary care providers within its Utah Medical Group.

– As part of the new partnership, Castell will help to target and enroll eligible patients through their existing care pathways. Patients who have, or are at risk for, diabetes will be proactively contacted by Castell care coordinators and Intermountain providers to give them the option to enroll into the appropriate Omada program.

Omada Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Program

Omada Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program and Diabetes Program offer members support along with intervention from health coaches certified through CDC-affiliated Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center. The members of the programs receive pre-connected cellular scales, with Diabetes Program members also receiving continuous glucose monitors and blood glucose meters, all which report data seamlessly and track progress in real-time. The Diabetes Prevention and Diabetes programs also include an individualized care plan that is backed by behavior science to encourage lasting lifestyle changes.

“This announcement points to a critical, strategic need in the industry – deep collaboration between health systems and virtual care providers,” said Wei-Li Shao, President of Omada Health. “Together, Omada Health and Castell can connect traditional care with virtual care to reach more at-risk patients with our proven Diabetes Prevention and Diabetes programs. This new partnership positions Omada Health squarely at the intersection of in-person and virtual healthcare for some of the most prevalent chronic conditions and is a statement on where the evolution of care is headed.”

Omada’s Diabetes Prevention Program has proven results, as illustrated in the PREDICTS peer-reviewed study, with an average weight loss achieved by Omada participants associated with 50% reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and 58% achieving normal A1C levels. The Diabetes Program members saw an average of 0.8% A1C reduction, including an average of 1.4% reduction for individuals with baseline A1C values at or above 9%, according to the Insights From a Digitally Enhanced Diabetes Program study.

What You Should Know:

– The FDA has cleared Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system in the U.S. for people with all types of diabetes ages two years and older, giving more people than ever access to a powerfully simple diabetes management solution.

– Cleared as an integrated continuous glucose monitoring (iCGM) system, Dexcom G7 will be part of the most connected CGM ecosystem in the world, with real-time connectivity that can drive integrated insulin delivery systems, connect with wearables like the Apple Watch and integrate with popular digital health apps.

– With an overall MARD of 8.2%, Dexcom G7 builds on the trusted performance of Dexcom CGM, which is clinically proven to lower A1C, reduce hyper- and hypoglycemia and increase time in range.

As an endocrinologist with 19 years of experience in treating patients with diabetes, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that communication is key.

Patients with diabetes live with the heavy burden of making choices and taking action every single day to manage their blood glucose levels. Thankfully, advancements in technology have come incredibly far, giving way to tools like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), automated insulin delivery systems and more. But for Spanish-speaking populations, there is often one more barrier to overcome in getting the care they need: finding physicians, resources, and technology in their native language. How can we expect better outcomes for these patients if the tools and methods for treatment weren’t designed with them in mind? 

The Burden of Navigating Diabetes for Spanish Speakers 

Diabetes disproportionately impacts Latinos more than non-Latino white Americans. According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2022, it is estimated that 11.8% of the Latino American population has been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 7.4% of non-Latino white Americans.

Social determinants of health including socioeconomic status, social support networks and access to quality health care play a huge factor in this disparity. Spanish speakers with diabetes face many challenges, from navigating the complex American healthcare system in a language that can be foreign to them to finding healthcare providers that can offer culturally competent care. Additionally, the cultural diaspora of the Latino-American community is not a one size fits all approach, which can make it even more challenging for healthcare providers to provide personalized treatment that connects with these patients. 

Ongoing health inequity also continues to prevent Latino people from receiving and accessing adequate diabetes care. The CDC reports on the importance of communication in this equation—stressing that if you can’t communicate fully with your doctors or they don’t understand your values and preferences, you’re less likely to follow treatment instructions and make lifestyle changes.

Not receiving proper care or treatment can result in severe diabetes complications including eye damage, loss of limbs and heart and kidney disease. Latino people have higher rates of diabetes complications, making it even more critical to provide diabetes education in their preferred language so that they can get their diabetes under control before it causes irreversible damage. 

How I Navigate Diabetes Care with a Spanish-Speaking Population

As a native Spanish speaker based in Texas who has been working with this population group throughout my career, I am overly familiar with these patients and their needs. Communication, in their native language, between a clinician and their patients is essential in the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. It has been my experience that Spanish speakers underuse diabetes technology. Therefore, exploring barriers to adherence, health literacy, perception of the use of technology and family support as part of the clinic visit are of the most importance.

When we discuss diabetes management with our Spanish-speaking patients we need to consider how the behavior change can impact not only our patients but the family dynamics. Health and technology literacy can be intimidating, but the reality is that most of our patients with diabetes, when presented with the devices in a way that feels easy to use, can be open to the use of such technologies. Access to educational materials and technologies in their native language, in my opinion, results in increased participation in diabetes self-management. I have witnessed the positive impact in glucose control, prevention of hypoglycemia and quality of life that the access and use of diabetes technologies and medications have had in my patients with diabetes. 

Engaging our patients in their diabetes management and addressing their concerns not only about medications and devices but how the use of those medications or lifestyle modifications may impact their families is one of the things I focus on. I like to present diabetes treatments and technologies as an opportunity for the whole family to improve their overall health. Effective approaches I’ve used with this patient population to improve diabetes health outcomes include:

– Educating families and loved ones. Family is particularly important to the Latino community and ensuring that a patient’s family is on board and invested in their treatment plan helps to confirm the support network they’ll need to navigate diabetes care.

– Spending extra hands-on time to walk a patient through their diabetes treatment plan and giving them time to ask questions and speak about their concerns.

– Assisting patients in setting up their diabetes technology on their mobile devices. For example, when I work with patients to set up their Dexcom G6 CGM, I show them how to download the corresponding smartphone application, which is available in English and Spanish to ensure a seamless start. 

– Reviewing the use of technology during their follow-up visits.

– Sharing the data that I analyze during the clinic visit and evaluating areas of opportunities to improve their diabetes management.

– Referring the patients to a Certified Diabetes Educator Specialist. 

Access to CGM Technology for Spanish Speakers 

CGM technology is a powerful tool that healthcare providers like myself prescribe to patients to help them take better control of their diabetes. A CGM uses a wearable sensor and a transmitter to measure and send glucose values wirelessly to a smart device or dedicated receiver 24 hours a day. It eliminates the need for multiple daily fingersticks commonly used in blood glucose monitoring. CGM technology is widely considered the standard of care and is clinically proven to improve outcomes for people with diabetes.

There can be barriers for Latino patients when it comes to introducing CGM into their treatment plans. Oftentimes, they confuse a CGM with an insulin pump and need clarification on the role that each device plays. Once I sit down and explain to them how simple CGM is to use, they are much more open to using it. Another issue my patients encounter quite often is that treatment information and diabetes technology is largely in English, rather than their native language in which they’re the most comfortable. Receiving critical health information in a preferred language helps them to conquer their diabetes with confidence. 

Leaders in diabetes technology like Dexcom have seen how important it is for their users to receive glucose information in a language that’s native to them, leading to more features that are tailored to this population. This is a small yet crucial step toward improving health equity for Spanish speakers with diabetes. Even though there are still challenges that Latino patients with diabetes face as they navigate their health conditions, receiving their health information in Spanish—with the only translation needed being how to translate that information into actionable next steps—is a win for both patients and the healthcare providers like me. And it’s a win for the backbone of our relationship: that communication between patient and provider. 

About Dr. Rocio Harbison, MD, FACE 

Dr. Rocio Harbison is an endocrinologist with over 19 years of experience treating patients with diabetes in Houston, Texas. Dr. Harbison holds several accolades including Top Doctors by Houstonia Magazine, Texas Monthly’s 2015 Rising Star and Women of the Year in Science by Sucesos Newspaper & Solo Mujeres Magazine Houston. Dr. Harbison’s focus is on overall well-being, health and wellness with an emphasis on balanced and healthy nutrition options, exercise, and utilizing technology to improve patient’s health. Today, you can find her working at her practice, Advanced Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinic.

What You Should Know:

– Type 2 diabetes reversal leader Virta Health revealed promising one-year outcomes from its partnership with AutoZone, Inc., a retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas.

– Virta provides virtual, continuous health coaching, medical supervision and personalized nutrition to help patients reverse their metabolic disease, lose weight, + get off medications. At one year, AutoZoners experience long-term blood sugar control and clinically-significant weight loss while eliminating over half of diabetes medications.

AutoZone’s Health Outcomes for Employees

AutoZone currently offers Virta’s type 2 diabetes reversal, prediabetes reversal, type 2 diabetes management, and obesity and weight loss solutions to eligible AutoZoners at no-cost. Over the past twelve months, AutoZoners living with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity have achieved transformative results with Virta, including:

– Medication Deprescription: Type 2 diabetes patients eliminated over half of diabetes medications (excluding metformin), including a 73% reduction in insulin prescribed after 12 months.

– Blood Sugar Reduction: Estimated HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar) improved by 1% on average for diabetes patients. Every one-point decrease in HbA1c reduces the risk of long-term diabetes complications—such as eye, kidney, and nerve disease—by up to 40%.

– Clinically Significant Weight Loss: Across all groups, patients saw at least 8% weight loss on average (5% is the benchmark for FDA-approved weight-loss drugs and what is considered clinically significant). AutoZoners enrolled in Virta’s obesity program experienced 9% weight loss.

What You Should Know:

– Ascensia Diabetes Care, a global diabetes care company, maker of the CONTOUR® blood glucose monitoring (BGM) system portfolio and exclusive distributor of Eversense® Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems, has launched its online diabetes management and analytics platform GlucoContro.online in the United States.

– Now available in more than 15 countries globally and in the process of further expansion, GlucoContro.online support diabetes management by enabling data-driven care for people using the CONTOUR® BGM portfolio.

Enhancing the Scope of Diabetes Management in the United States

GlucoContro.online is the outcome of a collaboration between Ascensia and SdNcenter, a Poland-based company specializing in delivering high-tech healthcare and integration solutions for enterprise customers worldwide. This cooperation has resulted in a scalable platform that is capable of handling data from over 150 million patients, 10,000 clinics and 100,000 HCPs. It has also been designed to be able to collect additional data from other devices in the future, such as FitBit, Apple Health, Google Health and Smart Scales.

Through this single platform, people with diabetes (PWDs) can gather, access and analyze their diabetes data online and seamlessly share it with their healthcare providers (HCPs) and caregivers. The platform is intuitive and easy-to-use and gathers data directly from the CONTOUR®DIABETES app, CONTOUR Cloud, or CONTOUR meters via a cable.

To support PWDs and HCPs in their decision-making, GlucoContro.online has built-in data analytic capabilities. It provides users with color-coded charts and reports covering metrics such as blood glucose measurements, insulin dosing, food consumption and activity levels. This data can be shared seamlessly through a QR code or a simple one-click invitation and is held securely on the cloud as well as offline.

GlucoContro.online will be launched alongside CONTOUR®NEXT Concierge, Ascensia’s HCP-focused online platform for ordering CONTOUR meters and strips. With one login and within one uninterrupted system, HCPs will be able to rapidly access patient data as well as order essential supplies and samples from the CONTOUR® portfolio.

“GlucoContro.online gives PWDs and HCPs access to essential data wherever they are, providing them with peace of mind when making decisions both on a daily basis and for long-term treatment plans. The platform is already fully operational across Europe, and we are glad that people in the U.S. are now able to benefit from this intuitive and integrated approach to data-driven diabetes management. GlucoContro.online is just one of the ways in which Ascensia is supporting PWDs and HCPs to simplify life with diabetes,” said Chester Lu, Head BGM Digital Connected Solutions.