Top Diabetes News: ADA 2026

Diabetes and Weight Management Treatments

New Experimental Drug Leads To Dramatic Weight Loss and Relief From Related Conditions

GLP-1-based medications have revolutionized blood sugar and weight management, but they aren’t effective for everyone. Eli Lilly, which makes the GLP-1/GIP drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide), is currently developing retatrutide, the first drug to target receptors for three hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon.

Late-stage trials have now confirmed that retatrutide can drive dramatic weight loss, so much so that experts are talking about the drug as a potential competitor to bariatric surgery. New studies show that over a year and a half of treatment, participants who took the highest dose of the drug lost 28% of their body weight. Those who completed an additional six months went on to lose over 30%. 

Among people who started the trial with arthritis in their knees, reported pain declined by about 70%. For those with obstructive sleep apnea, breathing interruptions at night fell by more than 60%. In addition, over 95% of people with prediabetes reverted to blood sugar levels below the diagnostic threshold.

In a separate trial focused on people with type 2 diabetes, participants achieved impressive weight loss and reduced their A1C by about 2%, which is similar to currently available GLP-1 treatments. 

💡 Why it matters: There are several more ongoing trials designed to assess the effects of retatrutide on heart, kidney, and liver health before the drug can be submitted for approval. If approved, retatrutide may become part of a wider set of treatment options for people who need more support with weight management and related health concerns.

Ultra-Long-Lasting Experimental GLP-1 Lowers Blood Sugar, Even at Low Doses

Before 2018, GLP-1 drugs had to be taken every day. Then Ozempic (semaglutide) came along and made weekly injections a reality. Now, researchers are developing options that could last a whole month.

One of these new ultra-long-lasting options is berobenatide, which has a slightly modified structure that allows it to stay active in the body longer than currently available options. In an early research trial, 133 people with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes took a placebo or one of four doses of berobenatide every week for seven months.

At the highest dose, participants lost an average of 15% of their body weight and lowered their A1C by 2.2%. Although people on the lowest dose achieved more modest body weight reductions of 2.5%, they still lowered their A1C by an average of 1.6%. Similar to other GLP-1 drugs, berobenatide had gastrointestinal side effects that researchers said were manageable for most people.

💡 Why it matters: Pfizer, the company developing berobenatide, is now recruiting people for larger phase 3 trials, including one focused on people with type 2 diabetes, where participants take weekly injections of berobenatide. There is a separate trial focused on people who have overweight or obesity but not type 2 diabetes that will explore the effectiveness of monthly injections.

Diabetes Technology News

CGM Helped People With Type 2 Gain Five More Hours in Range

The benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes are well established, but research has been limited for those with type 2 who don't use insulin. Also, access can be uneven: Only about half of this group has insurance coverage for CGM.

A new study presented at ADA showed significant benefits for people with type 2 diabetes who don't use insulin. The study involved 283 adults across 22 primary care practices in the U.S. The researchers compared a group using the Dexcom G7 CGM with people using finger-stick blood glucose meters. Everyone in the study received diabetes education on diet and exercise at the start, and participants continued their usual glucose-lowering medications. 

Here are the key highlights:

• Those using CGM gained an average of five hours per day more time in range (70-180 mg/dL) compared to the finger-stick group.
• By the end of the study, participants using CGM had an average time in range of 62%, compared with 41% in the finger-stick group. This improvement was seen as early as the first four weeks and maintained throughout the study.
• The group using CGM saw their A1C drop by an average of 1.6% (from a starting point of 8.8%). 
• Those with an A1C greater than 10% before starting CGM saw a 3.1% average reduction.
• At the end of the study, 68% of the CGM users reached an A1C below 7.5%, and 46% were below the recommended 7.0%.
• The benefits were consistent for participants using different medications, including metformin, GLP-1s, and SGLT-2 inhibitors. 
• People using CGM also reported greater satisfaction with glucose monitoring, along with reduced diabetes distress and burden.

💡 Why it matters: Most people with type 2 diabetes see a primary care doctor, and CGM may not come up during their visits. These findings suggest starting CGM may be worth asking about – especially if you're having trouble managing blood sugar or understanding what's driving higher glucose levels. For those interested in starting CGM, consider a conversation with your healthcare provider about whether CGM could benefit your care and whether it's covered or affordable.  

Omnipod 6 Aims for More Time in Range With Less Work

Current automated insulin delivery (AID) systems can reduce the burden of managing diabetes, but still require some interaction, such as when dosing for meals. And yet many people still spend time above their glucose target.

Insulet's next-generation Omnipod 6 includes updates intended to keep users in automated mode more often, including during hypoglycemia, and has a more advanced algorithm that can deliver more insulin when needed. The system uses a lower glucose target of 100 mg/dL (a recent update allows Omnipod 5 users to use this tighter 100 mg/dL target).

A new study presented at ADA, which included 132 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and children with type 1, found that the Omnipod 6 increased time in range (70-180 mg/dL) compared to the current Omnipod 5. People in the study used each system for four weeks. With Omnipod 6, time in range increased slightly to 73%, compared with 70% on Omnipod 5. Time in tight range (70-140 mg/dL) also rose from about 47% with Omnipod 5 to 52% with Omnipod 6. 

In an optional phase where users were asked to dose insulin no more than three times per day, people gave fewer boluses, while time in range stayed close to the initial Omnipod 6 results. Insulet has said it plans to launch the Omnipod 6 in 2027.

💡 Why it matters: For people considering an AID system, these findings suggest the upgraded Omnipod may help them spend more of the day in range while reducing manual meal dosing. The Omnipod 6 appears to help people spend less time with high glucose while safely using a lower glucose target. 

Automated Insulin and Newer Diabetes Drugs Effective Combo

People with type 2 diabetes who use insulin may still struggle to manage their blood sugar – even when they use other diabetes medications. New research suggests adding automated insulin delivery could make it easier to keep glucose levels in range.

A new study evaluated whether automated insulin delivery (AID) systems could help adults with type 2 who take insulin, most of whom were also using a GLP-1 or SGLT-2 medication. People in the study began using the twiist AID system, which combines an insulin pump with the Tidepool Loop algorithm to automatically adjust insulin doses based on CGM readings.

The study included people using multiple daily injections, insulin pumps, or basal insulin only. After 13 weeks, time in range improved from 57% to 73%, A1C dropped from 8.1% to 7.4%, and time spent with low blood sugar decreased slightly.

💡 Why it matters: Using an AID system helped people spend substantially more of the day in range – about four extra hours. For adults with type 2 diabetes who use insulin, the findings could offer a reason to ask a healthcare provider whether AID might help make treatment easier or more effective.

Preserving Beta Cell Function Remains Important as Diabetes Tech Advances

Diabetes technology has improved considerably in recent years. People who switch to automated insulin delivery (AID) systems often achieve remarkable drops in their blood sugar. Still, wearables, at least those that exist today, cannot fully replace a healthy pancreas.

At the ADA conference, Anna Lam from the University of Alberta shared her analysis of data from two studies initially designed to test the effects of AID systems on beta cell preservation in 206 people with new-onset type 1 diabetes. Lam looked at these datasets with a slightly different question in mind: How does the amount of surviving beta cells (as indicated by C-peptide levels, which give a picture of how much insulin the body is producing) affect the blood sugar benefits of AID systems?

Lam’s analysis revealed that AID systems produced the greatest improvements in blood sugar management for the people with the lowest C-peptide levels. For people with higher C-peptide levels, AID systems did not offer as much improvement over multiple daily injections. Furthermore, people with higher C-peptide levels appeared to have a somewhat lower risk of hypoglycemia.

💡 Why it matters: AID systems help people with very little or no beta cell activity manage their blood sugar better, but trying to preserve beta cell activity in the early stages of type 1 diabetes is still a worthwhile goal. Right now, people who have been diagnosed at an early stage may be able to take Tzield (teplizumab), which delays the onset of symptoms and appears to help some residual beta cells survive.

Advances in Cell Therapy

Could This New Experimental Drug Delay Type 1 Diabetes Indefinitely? 

Right now, Tzield (teplizumab) is the only disease-modifying treatment for type 1 diabetes. It involves a single treatment course that can delay the onset of symptoms, but once its effects begin to wane, it cannot be administered again.

Biopharmaceutical company SAB Bio is developing a new experimental drug, SAB-142, that is similar to Tzield but works in a distinct way that may allow it to be administered multiple times over the course of a person’s life. So far, SAB-142 has been tested on six people with stage 3 type 1 diabetes and 62 people without the condition. The four people with type 1 diabetes who received SAB-142 saw improvements in blood sugar management and C-peptide levels, which indicate insulin production in the pancreas. 

💡 Why it matters: Though still very early in the research phase, data indicate that SAB-142 can be administered multiple times over a person’s lifetime, suggesting that it could potentially delay type 1 diabetes progression indefinitely. The company is now recruiting children and adults who have recently been diagnosed with stage 3 type 1 diabetes for a larger clinical trial to test the effectiveness of the drug in delaying disease progression and preserving insulin production. Participants will receive two courses of the treatment spaced six months apart.

Closer to a Cure: What Life Looks Like After an Islet Transplant

Research related to islet cell transplantation tends to focus on clinical outcomes, such as insulin production, C-peptide levels (a measure of how much insulin the body is producing), and cell survival. A study presented at ADA took a different approach, aiming to better understand the experiences of people who have had the treatment.

In Edmonton, Canada, where the cell therapy has been performed for more than two decades, those who’ve had the treatment described benefits that went beyond glucose, such as reduced fear of hypoglycemia, relief from constant vigilance, and greater flexibility in daily life.

"It's freedom," said one person from the study who remained insulin-free 15 years after transplantation. "I've been so blessed to live those life moments with my family, and to feel the good, the bad, and the ugly. I've been there through it all, and I've been able to be fully present and to live how I want to. So, freedom it is." 

Experts described a perception gap around islet transplantation, which is often seen as a last resort. People may underestimate the daily risks and burden of living with type 1 diabetes while overestimating the risks of immunosuppression.

The discussion also emphasized that islet transplantation is not a simple option and carries risk. While stem-cell-derived treatments are in clinical trials, the supply of islets used in currently approved procedures typically comes from deceased donors and is limited. After the transplant, lifelong immunosuppressants are required, and islet cells may stop working over time. 

One recipient developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), a serious complication that can occur in people taking immunosuppressive drugs after transplant and may progress to lymphoma. However, the person who developed PTLD said he does not regret having the transplant and still frames the experience in terms of hope and access to a comprehensive care team.

💡 Why it matters: This research showed that, for many people with type 1 diabetes, the considerations go beyond glucose numbers or full insulin independence. For many recipients, the experience was positive, even when clinical outcomes were mixed or complications occurred. More ways to measure how islet transplantation can affect daily life for recipients could help people with diabetes, families, healthcare providers, and policymakers better understand who may benefit from islet transplantation.

Risk Reduction and Diabetes Management Tips

Combo of Short and Longer Exercise Sessions May Show Best Results

Exercise is a crucial part of blood sugar management, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours a day at the gym. For instance, you could go for a walk every morning, but then spend a good portion of the day working on the computer.

At ADA, researchers shared data on the health benefits of taking movement breaks throughout the day. A small study recruited 75 people with type 2 diabetes who committed to four one-minute bouts of exercise per day for three months. Although participants did not see much change in their A1C values or cholesterol levels, they did experience a decrease in blood pressure and reported that they felt healthier. The intensity of exercise during that one minute did not appear to matter.

Another small study of 48 people with prediabetes compared the health benefits of continuous exercise and “exercise snacks.” Over three months, half of the participants agreed to move around for five minutes every hour for nine hours, while the other half went for one 45-minute walk every day. Both groups saw improvements in their blood sugar variability, cholesterol, and body fat percentages, but only the group that went for longer walks improved their insulin sensitivity.

💡 Why it matters: Many people work long hours at desk jobs. Even if you don’t have time for a trip to the gym, getting up and moving at regular intervals is beneficial. Still, longer exercise sessions seem to have unique benefits that your body won’t get from shorter bouts of exercise. For best results, try to make time for longer, more intensive physical activity and shorter movement breaks throughout the day.

Early Type 1 Diabetes Detection Programs Eliminated New-Onset DKA

Though there is autoantibody testing that can detect type 1 diabetes before a person starts to show symptoms, 30-40% of people with new-onset type 1 diabetes are diagnosed after they are already in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening medical emergency.

At this year’s ADA conference, Sarah Lydia Holly from the Children’s National Hospital discussed a collaborative effort to improve early-stage type 1 diabetes screening at six pediatric centers across the U.S. Holly and her colleagues worked with healthcare providers at each clinic to increase screening rates and subsequent monitoring. Over 20 months, the centers screened 1,743 people; none of those who ended up diagnosed with type 1 diabetes experienced DKA. 

Many people who were diagnosed before stage 3 type 1 diabetes (when symptoms are present and insulin is required) were eligible for Tzield (teplizumab), but only 36% initiated treatment. Those who declined cited logistical and financial concerns, as well as worries about the burden of the treatment itself. Further improvements in screening and monitoring programs could offer more opportunities for clinicians to understand how best to support people as they make decisions about treatment opportunities.

💡 Why it matters: Up to 85% of people who develop type 1 diabetes do not have a family history of it, which is why preventing new-onset cases of DKA will require more general screening efforts. Until then, people with a family history of type 1 diabetes can request antibody screening through programs like ASK and TrialNet. Getting a diagnosis before symptoms start makes the transition to insulin therapy safer and easier.

Olezarsen Reduces High Triglycerides and Pancreatitis Risk in People With Diabetes

People with diabetes, particularly those with untreated or difficult-to-manage diabetes, are at higher risk for severe high triglycerides (HTG), which can lead to acute pancreatitis, a serious, potentially life-threatening complication.

New research presented at ADA showed that olezarsen (Tryngolza) – a medication currently approved for a rare genetic disorder that causes high triglycerides – can also benefit people with diabetes and severe HTG. Over 12 months, study participants taking olezarsen reduced their triglyceride levels by up to 65% (on top of other available medications) and reduced the rate of acute pancreatitis by 81%. Participants’ A1C increased by an average of 0.26%, but researchers noted this change isn’t likely significant for most people with diabetes and severe HTG.

💡 Why it matters: Currently available treatments for severe high triglyceride levels without a genetic cause have limited effectiveness. More long-term research is needed, but based on these study results, olezarsen could potentially be a new treatment option. The drug is currently under priority review by the FDA, with a decision on approval expected by the end of June 2026. 

Can Activity Trackers Reduce Diabetes Risk?

Right now, you can go on the ADA website and take a short test to assess your risk of type 2 diabetes. One of the questions is: “Are you physically active?”

At this year’s conference, Dhairya Upadhyay of New York University said that simple yes-or-no questions like this don’t provide enough information to really assess a person’s risk. Experts assessed health data from nearly 13,000 people who had previously worn smartwatches for a year and then agreed to share their health records for nine years. Every additional hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (like brisk walking and biking) reduced the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes by 6%, and every additional 1,000 steps decreased the risk by 9%.

💡 Why it matters: Tracking your physical activity with devices like smartphones and smartwatches may provide a more accurate picture of how much exercise you are getting, and in turn, help reduce the risk of health issues down the road.

New Resource Provides Diabetes Education in American Sign Language 

A new free online resource for diabetes self-management education, delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), was recently launched as a collaboration between Dr. Michelle Litchman’s research team at the University of Utah and a community advisory board of individuals who live with diabetes and are also deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). 

Litchman recently presented the new resource, DeafDiabetesCan.org, explaining that for the DHH community, healthcare professionals need to know that handouts don't always work – you have to give people information in their primary language. The new online tool includes both written English instructions and videos where people fluent in ASL explain a number of diabetes topics, ranging from food guidance to glucose checks.

The resource currently has a dictionary with 42 diabetes-related signs, 20 educational videos on diabetes topics that adhere to current ADA guidelines, and 18 peer-generated videos that focus on advice from people living with diabetes who are also DHH. Each video contains closed captions and an English voiceover as well to meet the various needs of individuals. In interviews with people who were asked to review the website, participants highlighted that it was intuitive, easy to use, accessible, and understandable.

💡Why It matters: Until now, there have been no diabetes self-management resources in ASL available for the DHH community, who often face communication barriers in their diabetes care. For example, research shows that around 50% of the time, people do not have an ASL interpreter in their healthcare appointments. Not only that, but many people who are DHH may not be bilingual. Just because someone speaks ASL doesn’t necessarily mean they can also read or understand written English at the same level. DeafDiabetesCan.org is an important resource that was co-created with the community and helps fill this diabetes education gap for people who are DHH and live with diabetes.

U.S. and European Organizations Updating Diabetes Care Recommendations

Advances in technology and medications have revolutionized type 2 diabetes management, but healthcare providers need clear guidelines about what is available and how it should be used to give people with diabetes state-of-the-art care.

To that end, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) are finalizing an update of their guidelines for type 2 diabetes care. The new version shifts focus on treating type 2 diabetes from simply lowering blood sugar to managing all related conditions and complications, including other metabolic health issues, as well as heart, kidney, and liver disease.

The new document will emphasize the importance of diet and activity as well as medication. It calls for people with diabetes to make a daily goal of hitting the 5S’s (Standing, Stepping, Sweating, Strengthening, and Sleeping). This will encourage people to avoid prolonged sitting, mix in high-intensity exercise and resistance training, and get adequate rest.

As far as diabetes medications, the document will recommend individualized treatment plans that account for other conditions and place the person with diabetes at the center of the decision-making process. It will also emphasize the importance of starting treatments early, with one statement highlighting that many people would benefit from taking SGLT-2 inhibitors like Jardiance, GLP-1 drugs, or a combination of the two as soon as they are diagnosed.

💡 Why it matters: Ultimately, healthcare providers rely on information from medical organizations like the ADA and EASD to inform their treatment recommendations. An updated document that stresses the importance of treating diabetes and its complications early and using medication and lifestyle modifications in combination should lead to better care for all people with diabetes.

Proposed Healthcare Cuts Threaten Progress for Diabetes Care

The Trump administration has proposed steep cuts of $5.78 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for 2027, which could make it difficult for researchers and scientists to get funding, start new projects, and conduct long-term research to advance the field of diabetes care.

A recently published editorial highlighted these issues, expressing deep concern about how government cuts to biomedical research and dramatic reductions in NIH staff could dismantle the ability of the NIH to function effectively and slow the progression in finding new treatments and innovations for chronic conditions like diabetes. The 2027 proposal would also eliminate three major government organizations, including the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, which could severely impact the ability to address health inequities in underserved communities. Considering that, for example, roughly twice as many Black adults are likely to develop type 2 diabetes and have significantly higher rates of complications, eliminating such a program would further increase the gap for much-needed care in these communities.

Several prominent scientists were passing out the editorial before the opening session of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2026 Scientific Sessions – where NIH director Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya was supposed to give the keynote speech but pulled out last minute – and were removed from the conference by police and had their ADA badges taken away. It was reported that the scientists allegedly violated the ADA code of conduct rules; the scientists argue they were trying to peacefully hand out copies of the editorial to help spread awareness about the impacts these cuts would have on diabetes research and health outcomes.

💡 Why it matters: The proposed 2027 changes could dramatically impact progress for every chronic condition, including diabetes. In the past, NIH-supported research has led to life-changing treatments and care for people with type 1 and 2 diabetes, including the development of Tzield – the first ever treatment to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes. It is important to protect healthcare research and its funding. Experts urge any concerned U.S. citizen or organization to contact their local elected official and patient advocacy organizations.