Sansum Diabetes Research Institute logo

Type 1 Diabetes Research

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Some people have certain genes that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. Being exposed to a trigger in the environment is also thought to play a part in developing type 1 diabetes, but diet and lifestyle habits do not cause it.

SDRI is on the cutting edge of research for those living with type 1 diabetes. Our focus on improving glucose control and decreasing the need for insulin remains at the forefront of our mission.

Type 1 Diabetes Research

Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Some people have certain genes that make them more likely to develop type 1 diabetes. Being exposed to a trigger in the environment is also thought to play a part in developing type 1 diabetes, but diet and lifestyle habits do not cause it.

SDRI is on the cutting edge of research for those living with type 1 diabetes. Our focus on improving glucose control and decreasing the need for insulin remains at the forefront of our mission.

1.84 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, which is expected to increase to 5 million people by 2050.

Today, 200,000 people under the age of 20 have type 1 diabetes. By 2050, an additional 600,000 people of this age group are expected to have type 1 diabetes.

As these numbers grow, SDRI’s research continues to better understand type 1 diabetes.

Artificial Pancreas

SDRI and research collaborators at the University of California Santa Barbara developed the artificial pancreas algorithms, which have now been commercialized and used in patient care. This automated insulin delivery system links a continuous glucose sensor and an insulin pump to manage blood glucose automatically. The Artificial Pancreas has completely changed the management of patients with type 1 diabetes. SDRI will continue to conduct studies to evaluate improvements in Artificial Pancreas technology in conjunction with industry partners. In addition, SDRI will conduct novel studies to i) identify the optimal diet and timing of meals throughout the day needed to reduce insulin requirements and diabetes complications; ii) evaluate the optimal use of the Artificial Pancreas in older adults with type 1 diabetes; and iii) evaluate the optimal use of Artificial Pancreas in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes.

1944

SDRI is established by Dr. William Sansum

Dr. Sansum’s crusade against diabetes led him to form SDRI in 1944 and established Santa Barbara as a center for advances in diabetes research. 

2000

Implantable continuous glucose sensor and insulin pump

SDRI becomes the primary U.S. site to conduct research on an implanted glcuose sensor and insulin pump.

2004

1st U.S. Patent Issued

In collaboration with UCSB, 1st U.S. patent issued for algorithm used in automated glucose control (Artificial Pancreas)

2006

Artificial Pancreas Project

SDRI becomes one of six sites worldwide funded by JDRF to collaborate on an Artificial Pancreas Project.

2009

Artificial Pancreas Publication

SDRI and UCSB publish their work on using algorithms to improve automated learning for insulin dosing.

2013

Artificial Pancreas Research Selected as Top 10 Advancements

SDRI and UCSB Artificial Pancreas technology, in combination with rapid-acting inhaled insulin at mealtime, was selected as one of the top 10 advancements in diabetes research by JDRF.

2016

1st Ever Omnipod Closed-Loop Trial

SDRI enrolls first patient in the early feasibility study of the Omnipod Automated Glucose Control System.

2018

Pivotal Tandem Trial Completed

SDRI, as one of four clinical sites, completes the pivotal trial of Tandem’s Basal-IQ Predictive Low-Glucose Suspend (PLGS) technology.

2019

Trial Results Published in Top Medical Journal

SDRI, as one of seven clinical sites, completes the pivotal trial of Tandem’s Control-IQ technology, results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2020

1st of its Kind Study Using the Artificial Pancreas System in Pregnancy

SDRI collaborates with the Harvard University John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Mayo Clinic on one of the first Automated Insulin Delivery and Pregnancy studies for women with type 1 diabetes performed in the U.S.

2022

SDRI Plays Pivotal Role in FDA Clearance of First Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System

SDRI was one of 16 clinical research sites across the United States to participate in the pivotal trial of the Omnipod® 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System (Omnipod 5) , the nation’s first tubeless automated insulin delivery (AID) system.

Research Highlights

Research Highlights

Dr. Kristin Castorino was a key member of the Continuous Ketone Monitoring Consensus Panel organized by the Diabetes Technology Society. The panel reviewed the medical literature pertaining to ten topics related to ketones and developed and adopted 30 conclusions that support the development of safe and effective continuous ketone monitors. 

Advances in diabetes technology have transformed the treatment paradigm for type 1 diabetes, yet the burden of the disease is significant. SDRI, along with collaborators from centers such as Yale, University of Virginia, Harvard, and Stanford, carried out the pivotal safety study of the first tubeless, on-body automated insulin delivery system with customizable glycemic targets. The study showed the tubeless automated insulin delivery system was safe and allowed participants to significantly improve HbA1c levels and time in the target glucose range with a very low occurrence of hypoglycemia. 

Measuring physical activity and sedentary behavior is an important focus among researchers because individuals’ physical behaviors play critical roles in their health outcomes. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the best practices for analyzing wrist-worn accelerometers. SDRI conducted a clinical trial to estimate physical activity and sedentary behavior from the 2-axis accelerometer data collected with a wrist-worn device on adults with type 1 diabetes. The study showed that the participants’ behavior could be detected, graded, and classified with good accuracy and precision. 

Results from the first ever Continuous Ketone Monitoring device was shown to work in humans was published exclusively by SDRI. 

SDRI and the Mayo Clinic conducted a randomized crossover comparison study designed to account for psychological and physiological stress in individuals with type 1 diabetes in 2020. The publication, “Use of The Interoperable Artificial Pancreas System for Type 1 Diabetes Management During Psychological Stress” was featured in the January 2021 Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. 

The paper submitted by SDRI researchers and their collaborators, “Closed-Loop Insulin Therapy Improves Glycemic Control in Adolescents and Young Adults: Outcomes from the International Diabetes Closed-Loop Trial,” was published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics in April 2021. 

A multi-center study, including SDRI, paper titled “Feasibility of Continuous Ketone Monitoring in Subcutaneous Tissue Using a Ketone Sensor,” was published in July 2021 in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. 

A paper authored by researchers from multi-centers, including SDRI, “Patient- Reported Outcomes in a Randomized Trial of Closed-Loop Control: The Pivotal International Diabetes Closed-Loop Trial,” was published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics in September 2021.