CGMs are a key system for people with diabetes to manage their condition. But, Dexcom has worked to ensure that its CGM technology goes beyond its standalone capabilities.
The Dexcom G6, the company’s previous-generation CGM, integrates with a number of automated insulin delivery systems. Insulet, Tandem Diabetes Care, Beta Bionics and more develop systems that utilize Dexcom CGM.
At the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting this month, Dexcom shared data highlighting this integration. Results from the COMISAIR seven-year study showed the significant and continued reduction of HbA1c with the use of real-time CGM. On top of that, real-time CGM connected to automated insulin delivery (AID) systems showed further substantial HbA1c reductions. In the case of COMISAIR, participants used the Tandem Diabetes Care Control IQ automated insulin delivery system.
Speaking to Drug Delivery Business News, Dexcom EVP and COO Jake Leach explained the importance of integrating CGM with automated systems, plus more positives from Dexcom’s monitoring technology shared at EASD.
The Dexcom data
COMISAIR, a seven-year prospective real-world CGM study first demonstrated the overall HbA1c reduction with the use of CGM.
Regardless of insulin delivery method (multiple daily injections or insulin pump therapy), real-time CGM offered greater HbA1c reductions compared to self-monitoring blood glucose over seven years.
The further HbA1c reduction with Tandem’s Control IQ highlighted the system’s capabilities beyond just monitoring. Dexcom’s study showed high CGM adherence over seven years, too, regardless of insulin delivery method. For CGM and multiple daily injection users, the company reported 88.8% adherence.
It was even higher for those using CGM and automated insulin delivery, with 91.9% adherence. Dexcom will begin launching its next-generation G7 with the Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump before the end of the year in the U.S., plus in other markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
“Dexcom is the undisputed leader in connectivity and has safely powered AID systems for more than 1 million years of cumulative patient use,” Leach says. “We’ve prioritized connectivity for more than a decade, which means our CGM systems are optimized to seamlessly connect with insulin delivery and digital health partners of all kinds, giving users freedom of choice in their diabetes journey and making Dexcom the clear choice for AID.”
Integrating CGM and automated insulin delivery
Leach explained that the first step in the integration process is to establish and use broadly adopted technologies. That factors immensely in connecting anything ranging from devices to systems to software packages and mobile apps.
Dexcom utilized a common technology early in the development in its sensors so it could work with common insulin delivery devices.
“One of the key things that we did early on was embedding Bluetooth low energy into our CGM devices,” Leach said. “That allowed us to come up with a very standard interface to communicate with multiple different devices, whether it was smartphones or insulin pumps. Tandem, [Insulet’s] Omnipod and a number of other partners have embedded Bluetooth into their pumps so they can then receive the signals.
“Collaboration is super important and having the right technologies between the devices is critical.”
The importance of collaborative approaches, especially between the makers of various technologies, enables access to multiple therapies for the diabetes community.
Beyond partnering with insulin delivery systems, Dexcom also works with digital health partners. These companies, like DarioHealth, develop apps that consume Dexcom CGM data from the users. They then offer personalized information about their glucose and offer functionality with Dexcom systems that even Dexcom’s own app perhaps can provide.
“It’s a really important ecosystem and something we intend to continue to expand,” Leach said. “It’s a great way to really amplify the value of CGM data that sensors generate.”
Dexcom’s effort to utilize CGM for pregnant women continues
In January, Dexcom CEO Kevin Sayer laid out a new mission statement for Dexcom, moving beyond diabetes to health in general. One area Sayer mentioned was pregnancy. Another space is gestational diabetes.
“There’s a number of opportunities on the overall health side that touched diabetes, but we’ll move a little further out with this technology going forward,” Sayer told DDBN. “It’ll be a good year of laying the foundation for the future.”
Another study presented by Dexcom at EASD outlined the performance, accuracy and reliability of its sensors for pregnant women. The G7 CGM demonstrated accuracy across all sensor wear days and glucose ranges for pregnant women with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
Dexcom also shared that early results from a trial of AID versus standard insulin delivery showed that pregnant women with type 1 diabetes using AID spend significantly more time in target glucose range than those not using AID.
“I think people can have comfort that, when using Dexcom sensors during pregnancy, they’re getting accurate, reliable data,” Leach said. “That was a great outcome we were able to show.”
Dexcom One also performs well
The company also had positive data for its Dexcom One platform, a differentiated CGM offering that showed reduced HbA1c.
Dexcom One continuously monitors glucose levels in real-time, sending values wirelessly to a compatible smart device through the app or receiver, which then display trend arrows to show the speed and direction that glucose levels are heading. It also has a range of customizable alerts and access to the Clarity data management software to provide remote data sharing with HCPs. It uses the G6 hardware platform with a different software experience.
The San Diego-based company launched Dexcom One in the UK in April 2022, followed by a pharmacy channel rollout in August 2022. The system already launched in a handful of European countries at the end of 2021. It has availability in Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, too. Last month, the company launched it in France and just announced availability in Argentina, too.
“There’s still many people around the globe that don’t have access to CGM who could really benefit from having it,” Leach said. “Our mission is to expand that access. Dexcom One is an important part of our portfolio that helps us do that.”
