$11 Insulin for All? Inside the Nonprofit Rewriting U.S. Drug Prices

I’m joined by Cory Zapatka, the developer of the Stash app. We dive into how the app works—from barcode scanning and inventory tracking to recall alerts, a trip planner, and an infusion site tracker—and how it can simplify the day-to-day chaos of diabetes management. Cory also shares how he built the app without a traditional coding background using AI tools, and what that says about the future of building in diabetes tech. If you live with diabetes—or care for someone who does—this episode highlights a side of management that often gets overlooked and a tool designed to make it easier, and if you’re watching on YouTube, you’ll see a full demo of the app in action.   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   Download the Stash App   Cory's Insulin Video (The Verge)   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) play a major role in diabetes management, but not all CGM accuracy and testing standards are the same. In this episode, I sit down with John Pemberton of Glucose Never Lies to break down how CGMs are tested, and why FDA clearance and CE marking aren’t equivalent when it comes to insulin dosing safety. As diabetes technology moves toward automated insulin delivery, we explore the risks of relying on data that may not be rigorously validated. We also cover the key questions every person with diabetes should ask before trusting their CGM.   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   Follow The Glucose Never Lies: Instagram | Youtube | LinkedIn   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I share my unfiltered review of the twiist insulin pump, diving deeper into my personal experience after two months of real-world use. I go beyond a standard review to break down how features like Apple Watch control, glycemic index-based carb logging, and retroactive carb adjustments performed in my day-to-day life. I also get the highs and lows, from strong glucose control and 87% time in range to frustrations with the Cleo infusion set and managing a tubed system. We also cover CGM integrations and how it felt using Libre 3 Plus with an AID system. This deeper conversation covers everything from training and usability to app design, connectivity, and overall reliability.    Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

Gary Scheiner, CDCES, and I break down why hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is one of the most dangerous and frustrating parts of living with diabetes. We dive into how to prevent low blood sugar, reduce the frequency and severity of hypos, and avoid rebound highs using insulin pumps, CGMs, and smarter insulin timing. Gary shares practical strategies for adjusting settings, treating lows without overcorrecting, and using diabetes technology more effectively. We also talk about hypoglycemia anxiety, what causes frequent lows, and how to rebuild confidence after a scary episode. Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Learn About Integrated Diabetes (Gary’s Practice)   Send in YOUR questions about  Hypoglycemia   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I sit down with Allan Coukell, Civica's Chief of Government Affairs & Public Policy Officer, to explore how its nonprofit insulin model and California’s CalRx partnership are bringing low-cost insulin—priced around $11 per pen and $30 per vial—to people nationwide, with or without insurance. We break down how pharmacy benefit managers, rebates, and the current drug pricing system have kept insulin prices high, and what’s finally shifting. We also dive into the rise of biosimilar insulin and how this approach could transform drug affordability far beyond diabetes.    Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I sat down with Dr. Monica Gomberg and Sherry Roberts from Blue Circle Health to explore how they’re redefining care for adults living with type 1 diabetes. We break down the real gaps in our healthcare system—from insurance battles and financial barriers to diabetes distress—and how this free, nationwide program helps people access endocrinology care, certified diabetes education, CGMs, and even direct financial assistance. Backed by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Blue Circle Health provides no-cost support without billing insurance, all while improving A1C outcomes and reducing diabetes-related burnout. We also dive into optimizing diabetes technology and what the future holds as Blue Circle Health continues expanding across the U.S.   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I spoke with leaders from Senseonics and Sequel MedTech to unpack a major first in diabetes tech—the integration of the Eversense 365 implantable continuous glucose monitor with the twiist insulin pump for automated insulin delivery. We explore how this implantable CGM works, what makes it different from traditional sensors, and how the new looping system connects through dual apps to support a more automated diabetes management experience. We break down usability, accuracy, weekly calibrations, alert customization, and early feedback from the first users trying the system. We also look ahead at next-generation implantable CGMs, upcoming app upgrades, and future insulin pump innovations that could further reshape automated insulin delivery for people living with diabetes.   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

Gary Scheiner, CDCES, and I break down how to improve mealtime insulin dosing and why boluses still matter even with automated insulin delivery systems. We talk through insulin-to-carb ratios, pre-bolus timing, extended boluses, and how different foods impact post-meal blood sugar patterns. Gary shares practical ways to read your CGM data to tell whether highs and lows are caused by timing, dosing, or carb counting challenges. We also cover strategies for handling slow-digesting meals, high-fat foods, and unpredictable eating situations without increasing hypoglycemia risk.    Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn About Integrated Diabetes (Gary’s Practice)   Send in YOUR questions about  Hypoglycemia   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I spoke with endocrinologist and diabetes tech expert Dr. David Ahn at the ATTD conference about the biggest breakthroughs shaping the future of diabetes management, including the rapid progress toward fully closed-loop insulin delivery systems. We explored how companies like MiniMed, CamAPS, and Omnipod are advancing automation that reduces carb counting, minimizes manual bolusing, and improves time-in-range outcomes. We also discussed emerging topics such as GLP-1 therapies for type 1 diabetes, AI-powered diabetes tools, and continuous glucose-plus-ketone monitoring aimed at preventing diabetic ketoacidosis. We shared key takeaways from ATTD and what these innovations mean for reducing daily diabetes burden while moving closer to a true artificial pancreas.    Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow David's channels: https://www.instagram.com/ahncall | https://www.tiktok.com/@diabetesdoc | https://x.com/AhnCall   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.

I spoke with journalist and cure expert Ginger Vieira to unpack major developments including stem-cell therapies, donor islet cell transplants, and the growing debate around the Islet Cell Act currently stalled in U.S. Congress. We examine why promising results from trials like Eledon's still face challenges around safety, scalability, and immunosuppression despite exciting early outcomes and break down the latest breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes cure research, exploring new clinical trials that are bringing some patients closer to insulin independence.   Learn about Omnipod 5 (today's sponsor)*   Learn about the Eversense 365 CGM   Join the Diabetech Newsletter   Follow Diabetech: Instagram | Tik Tok | YouTube | Facebook | Threads   The Diabetes Nerd Network   DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not medical advice and is for educational purposes only. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your health care.    *10-day trial eligibility may vary. Full terms and conditions apply. Visit omnipod.com/diabetech for clinical disclaimers, terms and important safety information. The Pod has an IP28 rating for up to 25 feet for 60 minutes. The Omnipod 5 Controller is not waterproof.