I have been sitting on this for a few weeks, and I wasn't going to comment, but late last week, this came up in coversation with a family. Plus, I don't know about you, but gee time flys these days! Anyway, for anyone interested, I have put together a few words on the 60 Minutes episode from a few weeks ago.
If anyone living with or involved with Type 1 Diabetes in Australia has been living under a rock, you might have missed this very ordinary 60 Minutes episode on Sunday 19th July 2026. (One of the Diabetes Nurses I work with must have been, as she wasn't aware when it came up in discussion last week haha)
I watched it live with my wife, some how we had both kids asleep in their bedrooms, which turned out to be a blessing otherwise they would have learnt some new words from dad. Or probably not...
Now I don't live with Type 1 Diabetes myself, but I have worked in the space for 14+ years and over most of that time, for organisations who advocate a lot for my T1D (and other D) friends. Here are some words (not the new words) on what I saw at the time and after some more time thinking about it.
Basically, if you missed it, the recent 60 Minutes Australia segment was looking into safety concerns with diabetes devices. They specifically covered one (yep one) case where a man's insulin pump malfunctioned during a clinical trial and caused a severe low blood sugar episode. Let's look at this part first.
They had joined a clinical trial (bolded for emphasis) for a hybrid closed loop insulin pump system and one night the device malfunctioned, leading to an overdose if insulin. This lead to a serious hypo, causing extreme low glucose levels.
Another part of the program looked at the continuous glucose monitors (CGM) issues and errors in accuracy. Now there wasn't anything ground breaking about this. If we have been provided the right training prior to using these devices, then we would know that they are a great tool, but not always correct. CGMs measure interstitial fluid glucose, not actual blood glucose. There will always be a delay in readings, and an even bigger delay if glucose is heading in a certain direction faster. If symptoms do not match the CGM reading, we always confirm with a blood glucose check.
It was a confronting story, and if it's made you feel uneasy about your own pump or CGM, that's a completely understandable reaction. Now I want to share some context so you can process this without it derailing the routines that keep you safe day to day.
They also had a whistle blower who wanted to remain anonymous, and they used an actor for their words. Very convenient hey...
What's true: device malfunctions do happen, and they can be serious. As one of my old Diabetes Nurse Educator friends used to always say, 'technology works great until it doesn't work...'. She is right. This is why you will always hear me (and her) banging on about understanding the basics to T1D management. The diabetes tech is great, but on the off chance it doesn't work one day, then you need to have the old, off the grid type skills as a backup. Might be because of my Gen Y/Millennial and growing up in Tassie roots. One day I might go off grid, but I can't live without my phone, so that won't happen.
It is also right that these companies get scrutiny and that manufacturers are held accountable. Safety is paramount, and so is advancements on diabetes tech.
What's also true: T1D medical technology advances are evidence-based and have transformed management for so many people living with T1D, these devices are lifesaving. Hybrid closed-loop tech specifically. These devices are always going to get better with time, and currently they are the gold standard in T1D management.
The final say:
CGMs provide real-time glucose information, high and low alerts, and help reduce the risk of long-term complications. Insulin pumps help improve blood glucose control, mealtime flexibility, and quality of life over those using multiple daily injections. In Australia, we are always the last country to allow/get access to the newest diabetes tech. The one positive about this, is by the time it gets here, it has past multiple clinical trials and our Euro/North America friends have done the real life testing for us.
If the story has raised worries about your device, or you've experienced issues with it, speak to your healthcare team and the tech device company directly. They are best placed to look at your specific setup.
I am keen to hear what are your thoughts on this or do you have any experiences to share? Let me know!
Keep fuellin,
Tim McMaster
Type 1 Diabetes Sports Dietitian | Master Nutrition
P.S. If you are ready to learn how to dominate exercise with Type 1 Diabetes, CLICK HERE to Book your first Type 1 Diabetes Dietitian Initial Appointment or start with booking a Free 15-Minute Intro Chat.
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