The International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) just hosted its annual conference for medical professionals who work in pediatric diabetes in Lisbon, Portugal, and members of the CWD team were lucky to attend. There were over 1800 attendees from all over the world at the meeting, including healthcare professionals, industry partners, and diabetes advocates, who presented their research and experiences to attendees. Here is a summary of the activities we participated in (Jeff, Leigh, Marissa).
CWD-ISPAD-JENIOUS Prize
Every year, CWD partners with early career investigators who are members of the JENIOUS group (Juniors in Educational Networking and International Research Opportunities: United States) to bring one fellow to Friends for Life Orlando and assist with their research project. This year, the fourth prize was given with an extra surprise.
Last year’s winner, Valentina Mancioppi, presented information on her studies and experience at FFL Orlando. Valentina came from Verona, Italy, to FFL Orlando and continues to conduct her research on how to manage sick days while on Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems. This year, two awards were given for the first time. Both projects are unique, innovative, and important for PWDs and their families. The two prize winners are Dr. Didem Günes Kaya and Dr. Sofia Fasoli. Both will attend Friends for Life Orlando 2025.
Dr. Günes Kaya practices in Istanbul, Turkey, and her project focuses on identifying eating disorders in diabetes. She discussed the lack of consistent screening for disordered eating and the concern for those not identified. Dr. Sofia Fasoli is a psychologist who lives in Verona, Italy. She will be researching chronic pain related to diabetes, which has received little research despite the significant amount of pain associated with diabetes management. She plans to focus on both the physical and psychological effects of pain on PWD.
Screening Dinner
On Wednesday, CWD hosted a dinner about screening for type 1 diabetes with the support of a grant from Sanofi. Dr. Kimber Simmons from the Barbara Davis Center in Colorado presented the latest updates on screening for diabetes. Dinner guests came from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Stanford University, Rainbow Children’s, Ecuador, India, Barbara Davis Center, Cincinnati Children’s, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and European diabetes centers. Dr. Simmons provided insight and promoted discussion amongst the dinner guests to help encourage healthcare professionals to discuss their challenges.
Some of the key takeaways were:
- Screening is much more easily accessible now.
- Prevention treatments are not available everywhere yet, but screening is still beneficial as it reduces the risk of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis).
- Few providers present have protocols for when to bring up screening to families, and there are currently no standard recommendations.
- Anxiety may be a significant barrier for some, and not everyone will want to get screened or screen their children.
- Prevention is the ultimate goal, but preventing DKA is also essential.
Expanding Diabetes Toolkit Breakfast
Dr. Eda Cengiz, from the University of California, San Francisco, led our Thursday breakfast. This breakfast focused on inhaled insulin as an added tool for diabetes management, and it was provided by an educational grant from Mannkind. Dr. Cengiz discussed the benefits, challenges, and how to integrate inhaled insulin use into practice.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Inhaled insulin behaves more like endogenous insulin: fast in, fast out.
- Use in the hospital can be very helpful – for example, someone with high blood sugar before surgery to help bring it down rapidly but not increase the risk of low.
- Dosing of inhaled insulin is vastly different than injected insulin. Some may be anxious about the number of units of inhaled insulin, but it behaves differently than injected.
- Time in range and post-meal glucose levels are improved for people on injections and AID (automated insulin delivery) systems without increasing hypoglycemia.
- Many PWD do not know about inhaled insulin and should be offered the option.
- It’s a great option for people with needle phobia, scar tissue, or people wanting more flexibility with taking insulin.
Attendees at both CWD-hosted events were given a special edition commemorative coin celebrating ISPAD’s 50th year and a CWD badge reel.
ISPAD Networking Event
ISPAD hosted a beautiful dinner on Friday evening, with an awards presentation followed by dancing until late in the night. The goal of the evening was to network with others, and the CWD team met many new people who work in or live with diabetes and shared CWD’s mission with them. Jeff and Leigh presented Journey Awards to some of the attendees who have achieved milestones in their diabetes journey. ISPAD presented awards to a young investigator, a diabetes advocate, and healthcare providers who have significantly impacted the diabetes community.
Dedocº also presented awards to three people who have worked tirelessly over the last decade to bring diabetes advocates to scientific conferences and ensure the patient’s voice is presented. There are two additions to dedocº this year – an artist in residence and a musician in residence. The musician came from South Africa, played the guitar, and sang to present the awards. The artist presented a beautiful piece inspired by ISPAD’s 50th year.
Dr. Jamie Wood was among the recipients of the dedocº awards for her significant contribution to helping bring patient voices to ISPAD conferences. Dr. Wood was also recognized as her term as secretary general of ISPAD ended during the conference. She served on the leadership of ISPAD for the last eight years and has made a profound difference in the lives of people with diabetes and their families throughout that time.
The week in Lisbon was filled with learning and connecting with other people who are passionate about helping people with diabetes. Jeff, Leigh, and Marissa spent a lot of time attending the conference – sessions, posters, the exhibit hall, and everything in between. It was a wonderful and wonderfully exhausting week. Now, on to FFL Anaheim this weekend!
Written and clinically reviewed by Marissa Town, RN, BSN, CDCES
