In brief: CGMs are essential & effective, GLP-1s & CPAP are better together

MILAN – A majority of health care providers (HCPs) recognize continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) as essential to Type 2 diabetes management, according to a new report published by Dexcom ahead of the 62^nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

Eighty-nine percent of HCPs believe CGM helps them assess treatment adherence between appointments, and more than half of current CGM users report they have followed their treatment plan more closely since adoption.

Other findings in “Dexcom State of Type 2 Report: Global Access and Attitudes to Diabetes Technology”:

CGM delivers exceptional results, but access barriers limit impact

Awareness remains low among people with Type 2 diabetes, with 55% reporting limited knowledge of CGM. At the same time, coverage and reimbursement challenges impede adoption, cited by 90% of U.S. HCPs and 53% of HCPs in the other seven surveyed countries. Despite these barriers, CGM users report outstanding outcomes: 94% manage diabetes more independently, 93% find CGM easy to use, and 91% use its data to guide treatment decisions.

GLP-1 and CGM adoption as a paired treatment has increased – with potential for greater uptake

Fifty-eight percent of people with Type 2 diabetes who use GLP-1s pair CGM with their medication but only 27% of Type 2 non-insulin users do so, despite building clinical evidence supporting greater clinical outcomes when CGM is used with a GLP-1. Meanwhile, a majority of patients are open to CGM if recommended alongside a GLP-1, and half of HCPs expect growing GLP-1 use to boost CGM uptake, indicating the opportunity for convergence is significant and largely underutilized.

The report is based on a survey of more than 800 HCPs and 2,500 people with Type 2 diabetes across eight countries (Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Ahead of the conference, Dexcom also announced a new partnership with Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s only all-diabetes professional cycling team, to become the official CGM partner.

“Our mission is to inspire, educate, and empower everyone affected by diabetes, which aligns with Dexcom’s goal to advance education and awareness around glucose insights,” said Phil Southerland, CEO and co-founder of Team Novo Nordisk. “Every rider on our team lives with Type 1 diabetes, and we race all over the globe in the most challenging conditions. It's about as demanding as real-world use gets. For a kid watching a professional athlete manage Type 1 diabetes with the same sensor they wear at home, that visibility and representation matter more than anything we could tell them.”

CGM could lower risk of dying for people with diabetes, according to new analysis

YARMOUTH, Maine – People with Type 2 diabetes on basal insulin who are starting continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) had a 44% lower risk of dying from any cause after one year compared with those who did not use CGM, according to an analysis of patient data being presented at the 62^nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan Sept. 28-Oct. 2. The risk was 35% lower after two years, according to the analysis. Researchers say the analysis provides the first evidence of an association between advanced CGM technologies and lower risk of death in people living with Type 2 diabetes receiving therapy with basal insulin with or without non-insulin diabetes medications. They say it also shows a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, with the risk of experiencing a new macrovascular event 26% lower among CGM users at 12 months than among non-CGM users (1.03% vs 1.39%) and 24% lower at 24 months (1.64% vs 2.17%). Researchers from Abbott and collaborating institutions used the Truveta platform, a database that includes anonymized electronic health records of more than 140 million Americans, to assess the risk of death from any cause, as well as first and recurrent macrovascular events, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and peripheral artery disease-in adults with Type 2 diabetes receiving basal insulin therapy between Jan. 1, 2017, and March 18, 2024. The target trial emulation study compared 13,935 patients who filled a first prescription for CGM with 13,935 non-CGM users.

GLP-1s show promise as complement to CPAP for sleep apnea, researchers say

YARMOUTH, Maine – GLP-1 receptor agonists like tirzepatide are best used to treat obesity-related obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) alongside CPAP, according to a new abstract in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. Researchers found that multiple studies showed the medications consistently reduced apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores, with the SURMOUNT-OSA trials reporting reductions of 20 to 24 events per hour and disease remission in 42% to 50% of patients. The drugs appear to work primarily by promoting weight loss and reducing fat deposits that contribute to airway collapse during sleep. However, researchers note that GLP-1s are not as effective as CPAP, which remains the gold-standard treatment for OSA. Authors say the medications are best positioned as a complementary therapy alongside CPAP to optimize patients before upper-airway surgery, or potentially to expand eligibility for hypoglossal nerve stimulation. The review suggests the greatest benefit will be for patients with obesity-related OSA, particularly those who are CPAP intolerant. Researchers say more study is needed to better understand the long-term effects of GLP-1s and their role in combination with other sleep apnea therapies.

Related reading:

• In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) for the treatment of moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity to be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. 
• Popular weight-loss drugs, especially tirzepatide, are linked to modestly lower CPAP initiation among adults with Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

TillaCare expands access for catheter designed specifically for females

LAND O’LAKES, Fla. – TillaCare has expanded nationwide availability of UriCap Female, an external urine collection device designed to improve at-home incontinence care for women without the need for suction or adhesives. UriCap Female is now available through Cardinal Health, McKesson and Milliken Medical’s home catalogs and is accessible through major durable medical equipment (DME) providers. “We built UriCap Female to significantly improve the pain points of female incontinence care, with the goal to create a natural straightforward and reliable solution that reduces daily burden,” said Michael Cohn, CEO, TillaCare. “We are delighted that more women and caregivers nationwide can now access our product to achieve a higher standard of care for female urinary incontinence. Our product is a step forward compared to suction based devices.” TillaCare continues to expand its network, actively seeking additional partners. UriCap Female is covered by Medicare under HCPCS code A4328 for qualifying patients.

UPnRIDE collaborates with Kessler to support upright mobility

WEST ORANGE, N.J. – UPnRIDE, an upright mobility platform cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has announced a research collaboration with Kessler Foundation and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation to further explore how innovative mobility technology can expand what is possible for people with disabilities. The study is examining real-world utilization, usability, function and user experience of UPnRIDE among Kessler patients, helping to advance understanding of what people with disabilities can do when they can move while standing upright in their everyday lives. “Kessler Foundation is one of the most respected names in rehabilitation research, and this collaboration is an important vote of confidence in UPnRIDE and the possibilities that upright mobility can unlock,” said Lea Waisman Shaler, CEO of UPnRIDE. “We’ve seen firsthand how standing mobility can improve quality of life, encouraging people to participate, connect with others, build self-esteem, and feel better. This collaboration is about pushing those possibilities further for more people with disabilities.” UPnRIDE enables users to move independently while standing, indoors and outdoors, bringing mobility beyond the traditional boundaries of the wheelchair and the clinic. The collaboration comes as UPnRIDE expands its U.S. presence and works to make upright mobility available to more people worldwide.

Medically Modern joins Florida Blue network

NEW YORK – Medically Modern says it has been invited into the Florida Blue network, allowing the national provider of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps and related supplies to serve members in every county in the state. Though the network is currently closed to new providers, Medically Modern says the addition was made through an amendment to its existing payer services agreement, as it already serves Florida Blue patients.  “Insulin pump technology is in an incredible moment – the pump technology coming out of Tandem, Beta Bionics, Omnipod, and Medtronic is changing what life with diabetes can look like,” said Corey Deutsch, founder and CEO of Medically Modern. “The issue is that a lot of DME suppliers do not provide these devices. Pumps are very expensive, the upfront costs are real, and getting them covered is complicated, so most suppliers stay away. We have religiously studied coverage rules, and we understand how to get approvals. That is what earns us a seat at the table with the incumbents, and it is why plans bring us in where they need more pump suppliers. We are the new guy in town that knows how to get these devices covered, and we are filling those gaps.” The addition of Florida Blue continues a run of insurer contract wins for Medically Modern. The company recently added new Molina Healthcare plans across 18 states and signed a participating provider agreement with Fidelis Care New Jersey (WellCare of New Jersey, Inc., d/b/a Fidelis Care), covering New Jersey Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, and Medicare Advantage plans. The company is also in-network with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Capital Blue Cross and Humana. Medically Modern serves more than 2,000 patients across all 50 states.

• Related: Medically Modern is in growth mode with a new model that uses its insurance expertise and customized technology to help physicians better manage their diabetes patients, says founder and CEO Corey Deutsch.

Doctor sentenced, ordered to pay $3.1M for DME fraud

BOSTON – A Florida-based doctor was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2026, in federal court in Boston for making false statements in connection with a multi-million-dollar health care fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary genetic testing and durable medical equipment (DME). Simon Grinshteyn, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years of probation with six months in home confinement and 400 hours of community service. The defendant was also ordered to pay $3,160,809.43 in restitution. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised release. In March 2026, Grinshteyn pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements relating to health care matters. Grinshteyn was charged in January 2026. Between February 2020 and June 2020, Grinshteyn worked with a purported telemedicine company to sign medical documentation, including doctor orders, for medically unnecessary genetic testing and DME. The medical records and orders Grinshteyn received and signed were pre-populated and made it appear that Grinshteyn was providing legitimate consultations to Medicare beneficiaries and had conducted examinations of the beneficiaries and/or would provide further medical care to them. Grinshteyn generally did not contact the beneficiaries himself and had no provider-patient relationship with the beneficiaries. DME suppliers and laboratories, ultimately, submitted claims to Medicare for these signed orders. As a result of Grinshteyn’s participation in this scheme, Medicare paid more than $3.1 million in claims for DME and genetic testing that were based on false documentation. 

MiniMed names new general counsel to help scale company

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – MiniMed has named Sheila Denton general counsel & corporate secretary. An accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience across global pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Denton brings broad-ranging expertise in corporate governance, strategic transactions, intellectual property and litigation. "Sheila brings deep board experience, strong regulatory and transactional judgment, and a proven ability to build and lead high-performing global teams," said Que Dallara, CEO of MiniMed. "Her experience advising companies through periods of growth and transformation will make her a strong partner to our executive team and board as we continue to scale MiniMed as an independent public company." Most recently, she served as general counsel, corporate secretary and a member of the executive team of Incyte. Prior to Incyte, she held leadership roles of increasing responsibility with Boehringer Ingelheim in the U.S. and abroad, including U.S. general counsel and corporate head of strategic transactions. Earlier in her career, Denton was a law partner at Pullman & Comley. She succeeds Courtney Nelson Wills, who departed MiniMed to pursue new professional opportunities following a transitional support period.

Related reading:

• Medtronic seeks to complete separation of MiniMed.
• MiniMed touts ‘excellent start’ to fiscal year.