Tandem Diabetes, Abbott to Merge Insulin Pump with Future Glucose-Ketone Sensor

Tandem Diabetes Care began a deal to develop and commercialize integrated diabetes tools that merge Abbott Labs’ future dual glucose-ketone sensor with its insulin delivery systems.

Abbott’s sensor currently under development will combine glucose and ketone sensing tech. It aims to help diabetes patients spot early ketone rise to prevent life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis.

In January 2024, Tandem’s t:slim X2 insulin pump with Control-IQ technology, integrated with Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, became available for sale. Tandem’s pump connects wirelessly to the FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus sensor, which sends automatic glucose readings every minute to the pump. Minute-to-minute glucose data can be seen on the pump and accompanying t:connect mobile app.

“Integrating our advanced insulin delivery systems with Abbott’s future glucose-ketone sensor has the potential to help empower people with diabetes to take faster, more informed action to protect their health and improve outcomes,” said John Sheridan, Tandem Diabetes’ president and CEO. “We are excited to continue our partnership with Abbott and look forward to working with them to bring this new integration to customers in the future.”

In March, the company launched Control-IQ+, the latest generation of its advanced hybrid closed-loop algorithm for diabetes patients, in the U.S. The new algorithm includes expanded weight (20-440 lbs.) and total daily insulin (5-200 units) parameters. It also has enhanced, extended bolus up to eight hours with Control-IQ+ turned on to better manage meals with delayed glucose rise or prolonged eating.