Memphis, T.N. and New York, N.Y., June 22, 2023 – Diatech Diabetes, a medtech startup led by people with diabetes dedicated to developing personalized diabetes care technology, announced today an award from Breakthrough T1D through its Industry Discovery & Development Partnership (IDDP) program.
Diatech Diabetes’ first product is SmartFusion™, a novel software platform for insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery systems that monitors insulin pump infusion accuracy, generates remote alerts during infusion set failure, and provides recommendations for improving a person with diabetes’ infusion set use experience. Breakthrough T1D will support the integration of SmartFusion™ into partnering on-market insulin pumps and the performance of first clinical testing in people with diabetes.
SmartFusion™ combines machine learning with real-time data from an insulin pump to monitor daily insulin dosages. This technology will help people with diabetes know the exact time when their disposable infusion set needs to be changed and when infusion accuracy is lost to avoid severe glucose levels. For healthcare providers, SmartFusion™ will also connect with an online diabetes management platform and provide data on how a patient’s use of infusion sets and experience with infusion set failure impact glucose management.
After receiving a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 1 Grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2021, Diatech Diabetes has shown promising results from its preclinical studies of SmartFusion™ that demonstrate its high accuracy for immediate detection of different types of infusion set failures that go undetected by current insulin pump occlusion alarm systems. “Infusion set failure continues to be a serious complication for people who use insulin pumps and can even limit the functionality of advanced automated insulin delivery systems,“ said John Wilcox, CEO at Diatech Diabetes. “As people who personally experience the negative health impacts of insulin pump infusion set failure, our team is committed to working with Breakthrough T1D via this IDDP to enhance the safety and efficacy of insulin delivery to improve the quality of life for those affected by diabetes.”
As the global leader in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy, Breakthrough T1D’s support will further accelerate SmartFusion™’s development to a version ready to be used by people living with diabetes. “Breakthrough T1D supports the development of technologies to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people with T1D,” said Jonathan Rosen, PhD, Breakthrough T1D director of research. “Diatech’s SmartFusion™ technology, by rapidly identifying pump infusion set failures, has the potential to help users avoid hyperglycemia and DKA as well as reduce the daily hassle of living with T1D.”
About Diatech Diabetes
Diatech Diabetes is a medtech startup with a mission to improve the health of people with diabetes through personalized care technology. Co-founders John Wilcox, who has lived with T1D for 17 years, and Luis E. Blanco, whose mother and stepfather have T1D, are driven by their connections to diabetes and personal use of insulin pump therapy. This company is focused on developing a novel insulin infusion monitoring software platform to reduce the burden of failed medication delivery that results in hyperglycemia, diabetes ketoacidosis, and hospitalization. To learn more about Diatech Diabetes, visit www.diatechdiabetes.com.
About Breakthrough T1D
JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, Breakthrough T1D has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally and globally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a global stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement, and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter (@JDRF), Facebook (@myjdrf), and Instagram (@jdrfhq).
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. This leads to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short or long-term complications, which can include highs and lows in blood sugar; damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart; and even death if left untreated. Globally, it impacts nearly 9 million people. Many believe T1D is only diagnosed in childhood and adolescence, but diagnosis in adulthood is common and accounts for nearly 50% of all T1D diagnoses. The onset of T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. There is currently no cure for T1D.
