JDRF's Commitment to Transforming Diabetes Care Through Telehealth

For decades, JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) has been a driving force in the fight against type 1 diabetes (T1D). With a mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs, the organization has steadily expanded its focus beyond traditional research into the realm of digital health. Telehealth and remote monitoring technologies now occupy a central place in JDRF’s strategic vision, recognizing that continuous, connected care is essential for improving outcomes and quality of life for the more than 1.6 million Americans living with T1D.

The shift toward remote care has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed both the vulnerabilities and the opportunities in diabetes management. JDRF quickly pivoted to support telehealth initiatives, funding studies and pilot programs that demonstrate how virtual visits, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data sharing, and insulin pump remote adjustments can reduce hospitalizations and prevent acute complications. Today, JDRF's portfolio includes investments in device hardware, software platforms, data security, and equitable access—all aimed at making remote monitoring a standard part of diabetes care rather than a temporary workaround.

Why Telehealth Is Critical for Type 1 Diabetes Management

Type 1 diabetes requires relentless vigilance. Blood glucose levels can fluctuate unpredictably due to food, exercise, stress, illness, and hormones. Frequent monitoring and timely adjustments are the difference between stable health and dangerous hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. Telehealth addresses several key challenges that in-person care cannot fully solve.

  • Continuous Oversight: Remote monitoring allows clinicians to view real-time CGM data and insulin pump history between visits, catching trends that might otherwise go unnoticed.
  • Reduced Visit Burden: People with T1D often see their endocrinologist every three to six months. Telehealth eliminates travel time and costs, making it easier for patients to keep appointments, especially those in rural or underserved areas.
  • Faster Intervention: When a pattern of high or low glucose emerges, the care team can reach out proactively—sometimes within minutes—to adjust therapy, avoiding emergency room visits or hospitalizations.
  • Empowered Self-Management: Patients who share their data remotely become more engaged in understanding their own numbers. Many report feeling more confident in making insulin dose decisions when they review trends with their provider virtually.

Studies have shown that telehealth can lower A1c levels, reduce hypoglycemia frequency, and improve patient satisfaction. A 2022 analysis published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics found that virtual care using CGM data sharing was noninferior to in-person visits for glycemic control, with the added benefit of greater convenience. JDRF has been instrumental in funding such research to build the evidence base needed for broader reimbursement and adoption.
CDC Statistics on Diabetes | Telehealth in T1D Study

JDRF's Remote Monitoring Initiatives: Devices and Platforms

JDRF's involvement in remote monitoring extends from basic science to clinical deployment. The organization has funded the development of key technologies and continues to advocate for policies that support their use.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and Beyond

Perhaps JDRF's most visible success is its early and sustained investment in continuous glucose monitoring. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when CGMs were bulky, inaccurate, and rarely used, JDRF provided critical grants to companies like Dexcom, Abbott, and Medtronic. These funds helped miniaturize sensors, improve accuracy, and create user-friendly interfaces. Today, CGMs are the standard of care for T1D, and many models can transmit glucose data every five minutes to smartphones, smartwatches, and cloud servers.

JDRF continues to support next-generation CGM features: longer wear times (up to 14 days), factory calibration (no fingersticks needed), and integration with insulin delivery systems. The organization also funds research into implantable sensors and non-invasive optical technologies that could further reduce the burden of monitoring. These advances directly enable telehealth because reliable, automated data capture is the foundation of remote oversight.

Artificial Pancreas Systems and Closed-Loop Technology

JDRF was a founding partner in the development of the artificial pancreas—a system that links CGM data to an insulin pump with a control algorithm that automatically adjusts insulin delivery. The first hybrid closed-loop system, Medtronic's MiniMed 670G, received FDA approval in 2016, thanks in part to JDRF-supported clinical trials. Since then, systems from Tandem (Control-IQ), Insulet (Omnipod 5), and Beta Bionics (iLet) have entered the market, each offering remote monitoring features that allow caregivers and clinicians to view pump status and CGM glucose from anywhere.

JDRF now pushes for fully automated systems that require minimal user input. The organization funds algorithm improvements, safety studies, and real-world evidence collection to support regulatory clearances. Remote monitoring is integral: devices like the Omnipod 5 can be managed via a smartphone app, and Control-IQ data streams to platforms like Dexcom Clarity and Tandem's t:connect for remote review.

Telehealth Platforms for Data Sharing

Hardware is only half the equation. JDRF also invests in the software infrastructure that makes remote monitoring practical. Through partnerships with health IT companies, the foundation supports platforms that aggregate data from multiple devices, present it in actionable dashboards, and enable secure messaging between patients and providers. Examples include Glooko, Tidepool, and Dexcom Clarity. These systems allow endocrinologists to see trends over weeks or months, spot compliance issues, and make medication changes without requiring an in-person visit.

JDRF has also funded the development of patient-facing mobile apps that deliver personalized insights. Some apps use machine learning to predict hypoglycemia hours in advance, giving users time to eat or adjust insulin. These predictive tools are being integrated into telehealth workflows, where clinicians can receive alerts for patients with the highest risk of severe events.

Partnerships Driving Innovation

JDRF accomplishes its telehealth goals through a broad network of collaborations spanning industry, academia, government, and patient advocacy groups.

Industry Collaborations

JDRF's corporate partnerships are among its most powerful tools. The foundation works directly with device manufacturers to co-fund research, share clinical data, and accelerate product development. Key partners include:

  • Dexcom – Joint efforts to improve CGM accuracy, extend sensor life, and build direct-to-watch connectivity for remote monitoring.
  • Tandem Diabetes Care – Support for Control-IQ algorithm updates and integration with telehealth data platforms.
  • Insulet – Funding for Omnipod 5 clinical trials and post-market studies examining remote monitoring benefits.
  • Medtronic – Collaboration on next-generation closed-loop algorithms and remote data sharing features.

These partnerships often include provisions for making devices available to low‑income populations, reflecting JDRF's equity focus.

Academic Research Centers

JDRF funds dozens of academic research centers worldwide that focus on digital health. The JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project has involved the University of Virginia, Harvard, Stanford, and the Mayo Clinic, among others. These institutions run pivotal trials that generate the evidence required for FDA approvals and insurance coverage. JDRF also supports early-stage researchers exploring novel sensors, artificial intelligence, and behavioral interventions that could enhance remote care.

Government and Regulatory Engagement

JDRF works closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to shape policies that enable telehealth. The organization has advocated for relaxed regulatory barriers during the pandemic, such as allowing remote initiation of insulin pumps and CGMs. It also pushes for reimbursement parity between virtual and in-person visits, which is critical for sustainability. JDRF’s advocacy helped secure the expanded Medicare telehealth coverage for diabetes self-management training and CGM data analysis.
JDRF Research Overview

Addressing Barriers: Data Security, Access, and Equity

Despite the promise of telehealth, significant obstacles remain. JDRF actively works to overcome them through targeted initiatives and policy efforts.

Ensuring HIPAA Compliance and Data Privacy

Health data is extremely sensitive, especially for chronic conditions that involve continuous monitoring. JDRF requires all funded projects to adhere to strict data security standards, including HIPAA compliance, encryption, and user consent protocols. The foundation also funds research into secure data-sharing frameworks that allow patients to control who sees their information and for how long. For example, JDRF has supported the development of open-source platforms like Tidepool, which prioritize privacy while enabling seamless data flow.

Another focus is preventing data breaches that could expose patient identities or lead to discrimination by insurers or employers. JDRF works with cybersecurity experts to create best practice guidelines for device manufacturers and telehealth providers.

Expanding Access to Underserved Communities

Rural, low-income, and minority populations often face additional barriers to T1D care: lack of endocrinologists, unreliable internet, and limited insurance coverage for devices. JDRF’s Health Equity Initiative specifically targets these gaps. The organization funds telehealth pilot programs in rural clinics, provides training for community health workers to interpret CGM data, and partners with state Medicaid agencies to cover remote monitoring services.

JDRF also supports device loaner programs and subsidized CGM supplies for uninsured individuals. A notable example is the JDRF Telehealth Access Program, which distributed tablets and cellular hotspots to patients in need during the pandemic, along with training on how to use video visits and data-sharing apps. Early results show improved engagement and glycemic outcomes among participants.

Patient Education and Training

Technology is only effective if patients know how to use it. JDRF develops educational resources—webinars, printed guides, and peer mentor networks—that teach people with T1D how to interpret CGM trends, upload data to telehealth portals, and communicate effectively during virtual visits. The foundation also trains healthcare providers on integrating remote monitoring into their workflows, covering topics like data overload avoidance and motivational interviewing techniques for virtual settings.

The Future: AI, Predictive Analytics, and Personalized Care

JDRF sees artificial intelligence and machine learning as the next frontier in remote monitoring. These technologies have the potential to transform raw data into actionable insights that prevent complications and reduce daily burden.

Machine Learning for Glucose Prediction

Current closed-loop systems react to glucose changes as they happen. Future systems will predict them minutes to hours in advance. JDRF funds research into deep learning models that consider food intake, activity logs, heart rate, and even weather patterns to forecast glucose levels. Such predictions allow preemptive insulin adjustments, preventing both highs and lows. Several JDRF-supported algorithms have already been tested in clinical trials, showing a 30–40% reduction in hypoglycemia events compared to standard control.

Personalized Treatment Algorithms

No two people with T1D are exactly alike. JDRF backs projects that use AI to tailor insulin dosing parameters to each individual's physiology, lifestyle, and history. For example, a machine learning model might learn that a patient's glucose spikes after certain meals and automatically adjust the insulin-to-carb ratio for those meals. Over time, the system becomes more accurate, reducing postprandial hyperglycemia without increasing hypoglycemia risk. These personalized algorithms run in the cloud and can be deployed remotely, updating the patient's pump settings via telehealth.

Remote Patient Monitoring Beyond Diabetes

People with T1D often have other health conditions—thyroid disorders, celiac disease, kidney disease, and mental health challenges. JDRF is exploring integrated remote monitoring platforms that track multiple biometrics (heart rate, blood pressure, sleep, mood) alongside CGM data. Such systems could alert both the patient and their care team when early signs of deterioration are detected, enabling timely interventions. This holistic approach aligns with JDRF's mission to not just manage diabetes but improve overall well-being.

Looking Ahead: JDRF's Vision for Integrated Digital Health

JDRF envisions a future where telehealth and remote monitoring are not add-ons but core components of T1D care. The foundation is already funding the next wave of innovation: implantable CGM sensors that last a year, automated insulin delivery that requires zero user input, and AI-driven virtual coaches that provide 24/7 support. Each of these technologies will be built on a foundation of secure, interoperable data sharing that works seamlessly with telehealth platforms.

To achieve this vision, JDRF continues to advocate for policies that remove barriers to remote monitoring, including broadband expansion, insurance coverage for data management fees, and regulatory pathways for software‑as‑a‑medical‑device. The foundation also calls for increased funding for comparative effectiveness studies that demonstrate the long-term value of telehealth in reducing complications and healthcare costs.

The progress made possible by JDRF's initiatives is already tangible. Thousands of people with T1D now use remote monitoring to avoid dangerous hypo- and hyperglycemic episodes, maintain tighter control, and lead more flexible lives. With continued investment and advocacy, JDRF is paving the way for a future in which no one with type 1 diabetes is ever alone with their disease—because their care team is always just a data stream away.
FDA Artificial Pancreas Approval | ADA Telehealth Resources