The Children with Diabetes team has just returned from the American Academy of Pediatrics “AAP Experience 2024” and we can’t wait to share with you a recap of our experiences at the largest gathering of Pediatricians in the world. AAP 2024 was held in Orlando, Florida from September 26–30, 2024 at the Orange County Convention Center. The weekend of the conference was the same week that Hurricane Helene slammed into the state of Florida but, thankfully, we were able to proceed with our scheduled plans due to the storm’s path once it made landfall. As we prepare to take a look at AAP 2024, grab your iced coffee and your stethoscope and join us in one of the brightest, happiest exhibit halls that we’ve ever attended!
AAP 2024 featured over 400 educational sessions in 70+ topic areas for attendees to choose from during the weekend conference event. The attendees ranged from General Pediatricians to Pediatric Subspecialists and also included Medical Students and Residents from academic medical centers across the world. Also in attendance were many Advanced Practice Professionals, Allied Health Professionals, and tons of other people who work in health care and supporting industries. There were 380 booths in the exhibit hall and lots of concurrent interactive technology and wellness sessions that took place during the conference day. Over 10,000 professionals attended AAP 2024 either in person in Orlando or through the virtual conference platform.
The Children with Diabetes team had a 10×10 booth in the exhibit hall where we discussed the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes with practitioners. We were fortunate to be able to speak with over 400 people who stopped by our booth to learn more about CWD and our organization’s mission of providing care today, until we find a cure for diabetes tomorrow. We discussed the importance of screening for type 1 diabetes and how screening can help prevent life-threatening events like DKA for those who have T1D but have no symptoms. We also talked about clinical trials and advancements in treatment options for those who are in the early stages of autoimmune type 1 diabetes.
While we were working in our booth at the exhibit hall, we loved meeting attendees who came over to our booth to show us their “diabetes in the wild.” We met people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes who were wearing continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps. We celebrated these new friends for life and presented them each with a CWD challenge coin. We additionally spent time sharing the CWD Journey Award program and cheered for those who have hit diabetes milestones in their lives.
During the conference weekend, CWD Events hosted a Lunch and Learn event at Taverna Opa Café in Orlando. The topic of this educational luncheon was “Type 1 Diabetes and New Screening Options.” This luncheon was sponsored by our friends at Sanofi and featured an insightful presentation by Dr. Laura Jacobsen, pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Florida. Luncheon attendees learned more about the causes of type 1 diabetes and new and innovative ways to halt or prevent diabetes through screening and detection programs. The conversation among guests lasted long after the meal was finished with many people exchanging contact information with hopes of continuing the important discussions after returning to their homes after the conference ended.
We are already counting the days until AAP 2025 in Denver, Colorado next fall. Until then, we will cherish the memories that we made in Orlando with so many of our new friends for life that we met in the hallways of the convention center and at our exhibit booth. Thank you to the pediatricians and providers who have helped so many of us during our initial diabetes diagnosis. You are such an important part of our lives and we are so thankful for the care that you provide for families across the world.
Green and Orange Forever,
Leigh
