The Inreda Dual-Hormone Pump: A Fully Closed-Loop System

Let’s dive into one of the most exciting developments in diabetes tech: the Inreda dual-hormone pump. I saw this innovative insulin and glucagon pump in-person at the EASD conference and was surprised to hear people are already using it. This is a dual-hormone system designed to keep glucose levels in check by injecting insulin and glucagon to raise and lower glucose levels.

Advanced technology, bulky design

The Inreda pump comes from the Netherlands, where 250 people are using it right now. I saw two versions of the device - the Inreda AP 5, which is used today, and the Inreda AP 6, a smaller, next-generation model, currently in-development and expected to hit consumers in 2026.

The pumps use two infusion sets - one for insulin and one for glucagon - and require two continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). Inreda says the system requires two CGMs for redundancy purposes –its algorithm looks at readings from both sensors and continues treatment even if data from one sensor is inaccurate. Currently, the CGMs used are Medtronic sensors, but Inreda is developing its own, which could mean smaller sensors in the future.

When it comes to size, the Inreda AP 6 is significantly smaller than its predecessor, the AP 5. But even with this improvement, it’s still quite large, clocking in at nearly twice the size of a Medtronic 780G pump.

Clinical data from Inreda pump users

The results from the current Inreda users are promising. Patients are seeing over 80% time in range (TIR), with more than 25 minutes per day less in hypoglycemia compared to previous treatments. There’s also a 0.9% drop in HbA1c and 97% of users have hit the combined treatment goal of over 70% TIR and under 4% time below range.

These improvements have led to a noticeable reduction in diabetes distress among users—something anyone managing diabetes will know is a big win.

@diabe_tech

This dual-hormone pump completely automates blood glucose control for people with diabetes. #inreda #t1d #diabetes

I’ve covered another dual-hormone pump on the channel, called the Beta Bionics iLet. The iLet has been under development for nearly 20 years. Many of you may know it as an insulin-only pump, but it was initially developed as a bi-hormonal pump. The insulin-only model released in December 2023 and the dual-hormone model is still in the works, but no release date or timeline has been announced. The iLet is much smaller than the Inreda pump—less than half the size—and is expected to retain its current form for the upcoming dual-hormone model.

@diabe_tech

A bi-hormonal pump using glucagon + insulin could make living with diabetes easier! #t1d #diabetes

Beta Bionics is also working on an approach that would use one infusion set for both hormones, which would be a huge improvement over two separate sets. The infusion set would have two connected, but separate, tubes and two cannulas. From what I’ve heard, the iLet would only require one CGM for automation. I spoke with the Founder of Beta Bionics, Ed Damiano, on the podcast to hear how the pump works and what needs to happen before it is released to consumers. You can watch that below or listen here.

While we don’t have a concrete timeline on the iLet, it’s clear that diabetes technology is headed in an exciting direction. 

You can learn more about the Inreda pump, and the other tech research and innovations I saw at the EASD conference by watching the podcast episode below or listening here.

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