5 Insights We Hope to Gather from ADA 2017
The first pre-conference events are already-beginning for the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 77th Scientific Sessions, held June 9 to 13 in sunny San Diego. We’ve been busy studying the conference’s 2,100 abstracts, 49 oral presentations, and 99 symposia to make sure we bring you the latest and greatest insights into the world of diabetes. Below are five key areas in which we hope to gain more insight:
1. Navigating the landscape of apps and other digital tools
With an abundance of apps and technologies available for tracking blood sugar, logging food consumption and physical activity, calculating insulin doses, coaching, and more, it can be hard to understand what technology is best for you. This year, we’re committed to finding new products that are changing diabetes management. We’re also pretty excited to check out the newest digital tech in the exhibit hall.
2. Patient preferences and outcomes beyond A1c
What truly impacts a patient’s quality of life? As the field starts to place greater focus on the outcomes that matter most to people with diabetes, we hope to see a greater emphasis on research and care designed with the patient in mind. We also would love to gain more insight on managing time in range, glycemic variability, mental health, diabetes distress, and diabetes stigma.
Our very own Adam Brown will also be bringing insights from Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me to the sessions. Join us in the exhibit hall on Sunday morning with Insulet to snag your free copy!
3. Clarity around pricing of insulin and other therapies
Issues of access and affordability, especially for insulin, have increasingly been at the forefront in diabetes. ADA’s Scientific Sessions host the largest gathering of all players in the field, including industry, researchers, providers, patient advocates, payers, and more. With all these players under the same roof, we’re interested to see if any meaningful discussions emerge – and recommendations are made – on drug pricing and affordability.
4. Updates on diabetes technology, especially closed loop and CGM
Closed loop (especially the Medtronic 670G) was the big conversation of 2016 – but 2017 has been relatively quiet on breakthrough technologies. Will there be any unexpected updates on closed-loop developments at ADA to spark new excitement?
There have been some promising changes over the last year in CGM, like the non-adjunctive dosing indication and Medicare’s decision to provide coverage for Dexcom G5, but CGM is still only used by a small proportion of people living with diabetes. We’re curious to see whether the conversations at ADA suggest that CGM will be the new standard of care, and how long it might take for this shift to happen.
If you’re attending ADA this year, make sure you register for our Musings under the Moon: Discussions in Digital Health event focusing on digital health and diabetes technology!
5. New focus on prevention
Diabetes continues to affect a growing number of people in the U.S. and worldwide. We hope that this year’s session will focus on prevention, especially for type 2. We hope to see research and discussion dedicated to sustainable behavior change and population health interventions for diabetes prevention, physical activity, nutrition, and more.
Prevention will also be one of the major topics discussed at our 11th annual Diabetes Forum & Reception with TCOYD. Be sure to register ASAP, as tickets are nearly sold out!
We’re excited to get answers to all of our questions and meet influential people in the diabetes field! If you’re attending ADA this year, be sure to also register for our Brews & Blood Sugar event this Thursday night with the Diabetes Research Connection. Otherwise, follow our journey on social media via @diaTribeNews, @kellyclose, and @asbrown1.
Ben Pallant and Bella Zabinofsky contributed to the writing of this post