Yep it’s Monday alright
As much as we wish the weekend would never end alias Monday is here once again which means it’s wacky time. Here are a just a few things that caught our eye today;
1. According to a study published in Diabetes Care there may be a correlation between … wait for it … sexual orientation and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. This study — which was led by Heather L. Corliss, a professor at San Diego State University’s Graduate School of Public Health in California — suggests that women who identify as lesbian or bisexual are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Now we’ve seen some crazy studies in our time but this one takes the cake. We also believe this study confirms our belief that there is a notable gender bias when it comes to these crazy studies. In the past we’ve seen all sorts of studies which examine things like the size of a woman’s breast and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, it’s only fair that Ms. Corliss and her team examine whether there is a correlation between homosexual or bisexual men and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Not that this study would be useful, it wouldn’t be, but hey it’s only fair.
2. Next comes more news on yet another company touting their version of a “smart” insulin pen. Now we have no idea how many companies are working in this area all we know is there are far too many of these things. Just as there are far too many companies working on ..wait for it … a “wearable” non-invasive continuous glucose monitor.
This got us thinking about that poor dead cat. Seriously all these stupid ideas that have no chance of ever hitting the market are making life tough on that dead cat. We’re seriously thinking about establishing some sort of legal fund for our friend the dead cat. Listen with so many stupid ideas floating around these days this guy needs some time off.
3. From the we can’t believe it but aren’t surprised department is how shares of Tandem (NASDAQ: TNDM) continue to power ahead. We’re happy for Tandem shareholders but this surge is based on something that hasn’t happened yet, may never happen and has never happened. We shudder to think what will happen should Tandem do what they always do and fails to execute. As we have noted before this management team has yet to deliver anything more than disaster but is being given a pass for past transgressions on the belief that it will be different this time around. We hope we’re wrong but the many gray hairs in our head tell us otherwise.
4. Speaking of insulin pumps, we’re hearing rumblings coming out of Northridge that market leader Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) is about to undergo a major reorganization. According to multiple sources we have spoken with these changes involve not just changes in personal but also changes to the organizational structure. Let’s hope for their sake whoever they bring in has a realistic perspective on not just the insulin pump market but also the stand-alone CGM market.
Although we have no way of knowing this our gut tells us that the company might be waking up to the fact that things aren’t going as well as they should be. We don’t sense any panic, but we do sense that the company is disappointed at the pace of Animas conversions. Nor does it help much they have spent millions on a CGM product that has zero chance in the marketplace.
When Medtronic revamped this unit before bringing in new leadership this team embarked on a rather ambitious strategy venturing into areas that were outside the unit’s core competency. We understood the reason for this but were always concerned they had bit off more than they could chew. Additionally, it concerned us that this venture into areas unknown to them would be problematic not because they didn’t have the talent rather because the non-intensive world is so much different than the intensive world.
Are we worried, not really as this team is too smart to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. We’re chalking this latest reorg up to a lesson learned.
5. From the we don’t like to gloat but must department has anyone checked to see how shares of Dexcom (NASDAQ: DXCM) are doing? Shares which are once again approaching the $90 mark. This company which everyone gave up for dead is back at the top and powering ahead. Will there be missteps in the future, for sure this as they say is the nature of the beast. However, Dexcom is proof of what we say all the time any idiot can build a diabetes device, but it takes real talent to run a commercially viable diabetes device company.
Well that’s all for now folks.
