- βAverage A1C dropped more than 1 full percentage point (from ~202 mg/dL to ~169 mg/dL estimated average glucose) over 12 months
- βComposite measures of optimal glycemic control improved up to 10-fold, demonstrating broad improvements beyond A1C alone
- βReal-world multicenter design makes findings highly applicable to everyday US patient experiences with the FDA-approved MiniMed 780G
| Country | Israel |
| Journal | Diabetes technology & therapeutics |
| Year | 2024 |
| Authors | Gruber, Wittenberg, Brener |
| PMID | 38758194 |
Israel Study: Advanced Closed-Loop Insulin Pump Achieves Remarkable A1C Improvements in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
A study from Israel offers encouraging real-world evidence that the MiniMed 780G advanced closed-loop insulin pump system can meaningfully improve blood sugar control in children and teenagers living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) β and the findings carry important lessons for American families navigating the same technology.
What Researchers Did
Scientists at the Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Unit at Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Ramat-Gan, Israel, followed 93 children and adolescents (average age 15.1 years; 43% girls) for 12 months after they began using the MiniMed 780G system. This prospective, multicenter observational trial β part of the AWeSoMe Study Group β collected detailed glucose monitoring data at five different time points throughout the year.
The MiniMed 780G is an Advanced Hybrid Closed-Loop (AHCL) system, meaning it uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to automatically adjust insulin delivery around the clock, with minimal manual input from the user.
Key Findings
The results were striking. Average A1C dropped from 8.65% at baseline to 7.54% after one year β a reduction of more than 1 full percentage point. To put that in perspective, an A1C of 8.65% corresponds to an estimated average blood glucose of roughly 202 mg/dL, while 7.54% corresponds to approximately 169 mg/dL β a meaningful improvement in daily glucose exposure.
Researchers also tracked three composite scoring measures of optimal glycemic control:
- Composite Glycemic Control (CGC) score improved 5.6-fold β achieved by 24% of participants
- Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) improved 10-fold β achieved by 10% of participants
- Composite CGM Index (COGI) improved 7.6-fold β achieved by 20% of participants
Two key predictors of reaching optimal control stood out: having a lower starting A1C and maintaining high adherence to using the closed-loop system consistently.
Why This Matters for US Patients
The MiniMed 780G is FDA-approved and available in the United States, making these Israeli findings directly applicable to American families. Current American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend an A1C target of below 7% for most youth with T1D when it can be achieved safely. While the average A1C in this study didn't quite reach that target, the improvement was clinically significant β and the researchers are candid that most participants did not achieve full optimal control, underscoring that technology alone isn't a complete solution.
What makes Israel's perspective particularly valuable is the real-world, multicenter design. This wasn't a tightly controlled clinical trial β it reflected everyday life with diabetes, including the challenges of adolescent adherence, socioeconomic differences, and varying levels of caregiver involvement. US families can trust these results translate to typical daily experiences, not just ideal conditions.
The study's message for American caregivers and teens is clear: consistent use of the system matters as much as having it. Healthcare providers, parents, and young patients must work together proactively to get the most from this technology.
Original Study
Gruber, Wittenberg, Brener. Real-Life Achievements of MiniMed 780G Advanced Closed-Loop System in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: AWeSoMe Study Group Multicenter Prospective Trial. Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, 2024. PMID: 38758194. DOI: 10.1089/dia.2024.0148