A1C-Chronicles:

April 2026

Empowering Your Diabetes Journey,  Together 💙

 👋 ,

Welcome back to A1C-Chronicles!

To Our Diabetes Express Family,

Welcome to our latest update, where we’re focusing on the tools and mindset needed to navigate the ever-changing landscape of diabetes care.

This month, we bring you a personal Josie’s Tips on the human side of healthcare, and a comprehensive guide to building diabetes resilience. We’re also serving up a fresh Bibimguksu recipe for your kitchen and taking a deep dive into the global diabetes supply chain in our DE Investigates section.

It's all a part of...

Empowering Your Diabetes Journey, Together!

A1C-Chronicles brought to you by:

An Update on Tandem's TruSteel Infusion Sets

Tandem's TruSteel Infusion Sets are experiencing a global supply constraint. This means patients will need to move to an alternative infusion set at this time.

📞 Note for callers: While our Customer Experience Specialists have no further information about the supply constraint, don't fret, our team is here to guide you through your options to minimize any impact to your care.

Alternative options like Tandem's VariSoft, Autosoft 30, and Autosoft 90 Infusion Sets are available at diabetesexpress.ca.

In Our Next Newsletter...ATTD Barcelona!

Our team recently returned from the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference in Barcelona, where we got a first-hand look at the future of diabetes technology. We’re currently distilling everything we learned about the latest tech and clinical advances to share with you. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter, where we’ll be breaking down all the most exciting highlights and innovations from the trip!

Josie's Tips: Beyond the Screen: The Human Side of Your Healthcare

Hi everyone, Josie here!

We live in an incredible era of digital health. Everywhere you look, there are sleek new apps, modern platforms, and automated systems promising to make managing a chronic condition effortless. While technology is a fantastic tool, this month I want to talk about something that an algorithm simply cannot replace: real, human connection and clinical expertise.

Managing insulin needs is a 24/7, complex job. It is not the same as ordering a pair of shoes online. When you are navigating the realities of this condition, you need more than just a slick checkout button. You need a true healthcare partner.

Here is why having a human-led, holistic care team makes all the difference:

Never underestimate the power of having a real expert in your corner. We are always here to be exactly that for you!

Until next time...

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before  making any changes to your diabetes management  plan.

Bibimguksu (Spicy Korean Cold Noodles)

Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook time: 5 minutes; Serving: 2 servings 

Ingredients:

For the Noodles & Toppings:

• 2 packages (8 oz each) Shirataki noodles, Kelp noodles, or Hearts of Palm noodles
• 1 small cucumber, julienned
• ½ cup red radishes, cut into thin matchsticks
• ½ cup chopped kimchi
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• Optional: 1 cup shredded purple cabbage or lettuce for extra fiber and crunch 

For the Sugar-Free Sauce (Chogochujang):

• 1 ½ tablespoons Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 1 tablespoon Gochugaru (Korean red chili pepper flakes)
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (unseasoned) or apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Liquid Allulose or Monk Fruit Sweetener
• 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced

Directions:

1. Prepare the Noodles: If using shirataki noodles, drain them and rinse thoroughly under cold water for a full minute. Boil them in a pot of water for 2-3 minutes to improve their texture. Drain well, then toss them in a dry, hot skillet over medium heat for a few minutes to evaporate any excess water. Transfer to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator. (If using kelp or hearts of palm noodles, simply rinse, drain, and chill).
2. Make the Sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the gochujang, gochugaru, rice vinegar, sugar-free sweetener, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and minced garlic until smooth and syrupy.
3. Toss: Add the chilled noodles to the bowl with the sauce and toss vigorously until the noodles are completely coated in the bright red sauce.
4. Assemble and Serve: Divide the spicy noodles between two bowls. Top each bowl symmetrically with the julienned cucumber, radish matchsticks, chopped kimchi, and a halved hard-boiled egg.
5. Garnish: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the top before serving.

Behind the Box: Understanding the Global Diabetes Supply Chain

The Anatomy of an Infusion Set: It’s More Than Just Plastic

To understand a shortage, we first have to understand what goes into making a single infusion set. It isn't just one simple part being stamped out on a conveyor belt; it is a symphony of global components that must meet 100% precision.

• Medical-Grade Steel: For sets that use a steel needle rather than a plastic cannula, the needle is not a standard pin. It is made of high-quality, surgical-grade stainless steel that must be micro-polished so it doesn't tear tissue, yet remain biocompatible enough to stay in the body safely for days. There are only a handful of specialized foundries in the world capable of producing this exact grade of steel.

• Specialized Polymers: The tubing isn't standard plastic. It is made of layered, kink-resistant polymers specifically formulated to be "insulin-compatible" (meaning the plastic won't degrade the insulin or absorb it). If the specific chemical resin used to make that plastic experiences a global shortage, the tubing cannot be made.

• Adhesive Technology: The "sticky" part of your set is a highly engineered medical adhesive. It must be strong enough to withstand sweat and showers, but gentle enough not to cause severe contact dermatitis.

• Sterile Packaging: Once assembled, the sets are sealed in specialized medical paper and sterilized, often using Ethylene Oxide (EtO) gas in highly regulated facilities.

If even one of these components—down to the specific medical-grade paper used for the seal—is delayed, the entire production line grinds to a halt.

The "Perfect Storm": Why Specialized Sets Face Delays

When shortages of specialized steel sets occur, it is not a matter of a manufacturer simply "forgetting" to produce enough product or ignoring patient needs. Leading manufacturers are often forced to navigate a "Perfect Storm" of supply chain realities:

1. The Precision Bottleneck: Unlike a Teflon (plastic) cannula which can be extruded relatively quickly, a steel needle requires incredibly precise grinding, beveling, and polishing. There is no way to "rush" this manufacturing process without compromising the safety and comfort of the needle.

2. Strict Regulatory Lock-Ins: Health Canada and the FDA have extremely strict regulations for a reason. If a manufacturer's supplier for medical steel experiences a delay, they cannot simply call a different, cheaper steel factory down the road. Changing a raw material supplier requires months, if not years, of rigorous testing and regulatory re-approval to prove the new material is safe. They are locked into their high-quality suppliers to protect your health.

3. The "Just-In-Time" Reality: Most global medical shipping operates on a "Just-In-Time" model. To keep costs manageable and ensure products aren't sitting in warehouses losing their sterile shelf-life, components are shipped exactly when they are needed. When a shipping lane is disrupted or a third-party vendor has a labor shortage, the domino effect hits the final manufacturer instantly.

Quality Over Speed: The Manufacturer's Dilemma

During a supply chain crisis, manufacturers face a dilemma: rush production using unverified alternative materials, or halt shipments until their strict quality standards can be met. The most reputable manufacturers will always choose the latter. They will not ship an infusion set unless they can guarantee that the steel is flawless, the tubing is safe, and the sterilization is absolute. While the wait is incredibly frustrating, this unwavering commitment to quality is precisely why we trust these tools to manage our health. They are refusing to compromise on your safety.

How Diabetes Express is Helping You Navigate This

At Diabetes Express, we are in daily communication with our manufacturing partners. We advocate aggressively on behalf of our Canadian customers to secure as much allocation as possible whenever a global shipment is released.

If you are impacted by a shortage of your preferred infusion set, please reach out to our Customer Care team. We are here to help you:

• Navigate temporary alternatives with guidance from your healthcare team.

• Ensure you are prioritized the moment new inventory of your preferred set arrives at our warehouse.

The global supply chain is complex, but our commitment to you is simple: we will always fight for your access, keep you informed with total transparency, and support you through the bumps in the road.

We would be thrilled if you left us a review 💙

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