Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It takes root in real places, shaped by the people who live, work, and care there. This space highlights practical breakthroughs, adaptive designs, and system-level insights that reflect the complexity of diabetes care worldwide. From new technologies to grounded fieldwork, these stories show how progress happens when innovation is guided by context — and driven by purpose.
In diabetes care, mobility is often the first thing at risk — and one of the hardest to restore. A new innovation under study may help patients stay in motion while healing, pointing to a future where science supports not only outcomes, but continuity and dignity.
At UCI, Dr. Elliot Botvinick’s team is testing a device that measures glucose and lactate to anticipate how exercise affects people with type 1 diabetes — paving the way for smarter insulin delivery and safer movement.
Can nerve signaling accelerate wound repair? A new study by Dr. Yen-Zhen Lu of Monash University — winner of the Peter Sheehan Young Innovator Award — explores how engineered neuropeptides may unlock faster healing in diabetic tissues, offering fresh hope for one of the most persistent challenges in diabetes care.