Diabetes Dialogue: Q1 2026 Updates from Tandem Diabetes Care, with Laurel Messer, PhD, RN

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!

Expanding access to and optimizing use of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems remains a central priority in diabetes care, with recent discussions highlighting practical strategies to improve outcomes across diverse patient populations.

In this episode of Diabetes Dialogue, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, are joined by Laurel Messer, PhD, RN, vice president of medical affairs at Tandem Diabetes Care, to examine evolving approaches to insulin pump optimization and the broader implications for reducing patient burden.

Drawing from recent data presented at international meetings, the discussion emphasizes how clinicians can more effectively tailor AID system settings—particularly with Control-IQ technology—by focusing on correction factors and basal rates rather than fixed targets alone. Messer underscores that intensifying these parameters can improve glycemic outcomes, including reductions in mean glucose, without increasing hypoglycemia risk, reinforcing the importance of understanding system-specific levers rather than relying on generalized assumptions across platforms.

The conversation also explores emerging evidence supporting simplified approaches to insulin dosing, particularly in type 2 diabetes. Rather than emphasizing precise carbohydrate counting, panelists highlight the growing role of flexible bolus strategies to meet patients where they are. These approaches, supported by clinical trial data, suggest comparable glycemic improvements while meaningfully reducing the cognitive burden associated with diabetes management.

Further, the panel reflects on real-world data demonstrating the effectiveness of AID systems even in the absence of consistent meal bolusing, with time-in-range outcomes exceeding expectations in some populations. This shift signals a broader transition toward more adaptive, patient-centered automation, where algorithms increasingly compensate for behavioral variability.

Looking ahead, the discussion points to continued innovation in algorithm design, including advancements toward fully closed-loop systems and technologies aimed at minimizing user input. As Messer notes, the future of diabetes care lies not only in improving glycemic metrics, but in enabling patients to engage less frequently with their disease—ultimately redefining what effective, sustainable management looks like in clinical practice.