MiniMed (NASDAQ: MMED), a global leader in diabetes technology, announced an expanded agreement with Abbott to commercialize dual glucose-ketone sensors that will integrate exclusively with MiniMed smart dosing systems. The announcement was made on June 3, 2026, from Northridge, California.
Enhanced Monitoring for Diabetes Management
The new dual monitoring sensors are designed to enable early, real-time detection of rising ketone levels, helping to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication. This agreement builds on the companies' existing partnership for the Instinct sensor, also made by Abbott, and will offer MiniMed users expanded choice across its automated insulin delivery and Smart MDI systems. The sensors will maintain the same size as the Instinct sensor, which is recognized as the world's smallest and thinnest sensor.
Addressing a Critical Health Risk
DKA is responsible for hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations annually in the United States and remains the leading cause of death in children and adults under age 58 with type 1 diabetes. The condition occurs when the body lacks sufficient insulin to use blood sugar for energy, prompting it to break down fat instead, which leads to a buildup of acid-like ketones. Ketones can rise independently of glucose levels, sometimes even when glucose appears within range, delaying detection of DKA risk. Currently, ketone monitoring requires separate finger-stick blood tests or urine strips, often performed only after symptoms appear, when intervention is most urgent and outcomes less certain.
Integration with MiniMed Smart Dosing Systems
The dual sensors will be fully integrated with MiniMed's smart dosing systems, providing continuous glucose and ketone data directly to its intelligent dosing algorithm. Glucose data informs real-time automated insulin delivery decisions, while ketone data adds an additional layer of safety by enabling earlier alerts when ketone levels begin to rise above a safe threshold, potentially allowing intervention before DKA develops.
“By integrating dual glucose-ketone monitoring sensors with our MiniMed smart dosing systems, we’re adding an additional layer of intelligence and protection,” said Que Dallara, chief executive officer of MiniMed. “Our system is designed to keep people in tight glucose control and minimize DKA risk through smarter, more consistent automation — intervening before it ever becomes an emergency. This partnership with Abbott takes that commitment even further. At MiniMed, our mission is to make every day a better day for people with diabetes, and that means relentlessly pursuing innovations that not only improve outcomes but also deliver genuine peace of mind.”
Next Steps and Regulatory Status
The companies expect to provide further updates on regulatory and commercialization milestones in the coming months. Abbott's dual glucose-ketone systems are not yet cleared or available for sale in the United States.
