2024 Diabetes Milestones in Devices, Treatments, and Research

This year has seen significant advancements in diabetes research, treatments, devices, and technology – in fact, you may already be benefiting from some of them! Hundreds of scientists, researchers, and organizations around the world are working hard every day to continuously make improvements to diabetes management. We wanted to share some of the major highlights so you are aware of the progress being made in a variety of areas that will help people with diabetes live longer, happier, and healthier lives!

Highlights:

• Diabetes devices approved by the FDA in 2024 include the Eversense 365 CGM, Medtronic’s Simplera CGM, Dexcom’s Stelo CGM, Abbott’s Libre Rio CGM, Sequel’s twiist AID system, and Modular Medical’s MODD1 patch pump.
• Medication updates include a new heart-health indication for Wegovy, a new medication called Rezdiffra to treat liver disease, and the first generic GLP1-1 in the U.S. Two medications that did not receive FDA approval were Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly insulin icodec and Lexicon’s SGLT-2 for use in type 1 diabetes.
• In the world of research, Zepbound and Mounjaro were shown to reduce the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes by 94% in adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight. Several studies showed that Ozempic may help reduce the progression of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes, and a stem-cell therapy reversed type 1 diabetes in a groundbreaking case study in China.

Key Advancements from 2024 You Should Be Aware Of:

• Medicare expanded coverage for the Eversense E3 implantable CGM to include all people with diabetes using insulin, as well as non-insulin-users with a history of problematic hypoglycemia.
• Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus Sensor integrated with Tandem’s t:slim X2 insulin pump.
• Tandem’s Mobi insulin pump started shipping in the U.S. and gained compatibility with the Dexcom G7 CGM.
• Dexcom’s Stelo was FDA-approved as the first over-the-counter CGM for people with type 2 diabetes not on insulin.
• The FDA cleared Sequel’s twiist AID system for people at least six years old with type 1 diabetes.
• Eversense received iCGM designation by the FDA, allowing their implantable CGMs to be integrated with insulin pumps.
• The Dexcom G7 CGM now connects directly to Apple Watch.
• Abbott received FDA clearance for two new over-the-counter CGMs – the Lingo for people without diabetes, and the Libre Rio for people 18 and older with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin.
• Medtronic received FDA approval for their Simplera CGM, and they announced a new partnership with Abbott to expand CGM options.
• The Omnipod 5 AID System was FDA-cleared for people with type 2 diabetes.
• The FDA approved Modular Medical’s MODD1 insulin patch pump for adults with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It was designed to be simpler and more affordable to expand access to diabetes technology for previously underserved communities.
• A Dexcom CGM was worn in outer space in first-of-its-kind Polaris Dawn Mission.
• Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus CGM launched in the U.S.
• The Eversense 365, the world’s first year-long CGM, received FDA clearance.
• The Omnipod 5 app for iPhone became fully available in the U.S.
• Tandem’s t:slim X2 was cleared for use with Lyumjev insulin.

• A glucagon protocol was added to the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care, with the recommendation that people taking insulin (or who are at high risk of low blood sugar) should have a prescription for glucagon (preferably read-to-use glucagon like the Gvoke HypoPen) for low blood sugar emergencies.
• Wegovy (semaglutide) received a new FDA-approved indication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.
• The FDA approved Rezdiffra, the first drug for advanced liver disease. Rezdiffra is indicated to treat adults with noncirrhotic non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with moderate to advanced liver scarring (fibrosis).
• An FDA panel voted against Novo Nordisk’s weekly insulin icodec for people with type 1 diabetes, and later rejects Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly insulin icodec.
• Teva Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of generic Victoza – the first generic GLP-1 in the U.S.
• The FDA voted no on Lexicon’s Zynquista (sotagliflozin) for glucose control as an adjunct to insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes and CKD due to the risk for DKA.
• Tzield became more widely available at institutions in the U.S., including UNC Children’s Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, OU Health, and Georgia’s Piedmont Columbus Regional.

• New studies showed that semaglutide (Ozempic) may help reduce the progression of kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes, and it may also help protect kidney function in people who are overweight or obese with established cardiovascular disease.
• Study results showed that Zepbound and Mounjaro significantly reduce the risk of progression to type 2 diabetes by 94%  among adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight.
• Diamyd received Fast Track designation for the treatment of individuals with stage 3 type 1 diabetes carrying the HLA DR3-DQ2 genotype, and for pediatric patients with stage 1 or stage 2 type 1 diabetes carrying the genotype HLA DR3-DQ2.
• Stem-cell therapy reversed type 1 diabetes in groundbreaking case study in China.
• Vertex announced positive results from their ongoing study of VX-880, an islet cell treatment for people with type 1 diabetes. Study participants experienced significant improvements in A1C, glucose control, and a reduced need for insulin.
• Early Check genome sequencing study reaches milestone of over 1,000 newborns screened for type 1 diabetes in North Carolina.

As you can see this is a long list! There were even more advancements than we could include, but we wanted to highlight some of the most significant breakthroughs. We’re so grateful for every innovation that helps to make living with diabetes a little easier.

While so many organizations around the world continue to work diligently toward a cure, we’re here to support you with the best practical knowledge for improving your quality of life every day. See you in 2025!