Buongiorno! The Children with Diabetes team has just returned from ATTD 2024 (Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes). We can’t wait to tell you about our gelato-filled experience in Italy. Let’s grab a cozy chair, close our eyes, pretend that we are surrounded by the Tuscan countryside, and get started!
ATTD is the leading international forum where clinicians, diabetes care providers, researchers, industries, start-ups, investors, regulators, and people with diabetes assemble with the goal “to ameliorate the care of people with diabetes at the fastest pace.” Distinguished professionals in the diabetes field give presentations and discussions throughout the week on topics such as artificial-intelligence-based decision support systems, glucose sensors, closed-loop systems, artificial pancreas, new medications for the treatment of diabetes, new insulins, delivery systems, and insulin pumps, and much more. The conference was held at Fortezza da Basso in Firenze, Florence, Italy. Fortezza da Basso is a fortress inserted in the fourteenth-century walls of Florence. ATTD featured educational sessions, breakout sessions, an exhibit hall, and plenty of time for formal meetings and informal gatherings with key diabetes stakeholders from across the world.
The Children with Diabetes team spent our week at ATTD attending the conference, meeting with sponsors and industry leaders, talking with beloved FFL faculty members, and developing new relationships with people who share our organization’s vision: “providing care today until a cure comes tomorrow.” In addition to the excitement at the ATTD conference, CWD also hosted three events during the week, which helped to bring together innovators, thought leaders, and diabetes pioneers in the same room for conversation, exchange of ideas, and friendship.
In partnership with Know Labs, CWD hosted an Innovation Lunch and Learn event exploring a new non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring device. This event was held at the Westin Excelsior in Florence and was by invitation only. While attendees enjoyed a buffet luncheon, they learned more about Know Labs and their advances in non-invasive glucose monitoring. CWD’s Clinical Director, Marissa Town, facilitated a panel discussion on glucose monitoring and invited questions from the standing-room-only audience.
CWD also helped to facilitate logistics for a luncheon event for the newly established Global Diabetes Advocacy Network. This luncheon was held at the Westin Excelsior in Florence and included a panel discussion on the “Power of Partnering with Parliamentarians.” The panel discussion included Renza Scibilia, International Diabetes Advocate, Giorgio Mule, MP, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, First Signatory to the T1 Screening Bill (Italy), and Sir George Howarth, MP, Co-Chair T1DE Report (UK). The panel was moderated by our beloved friend for life, Adrian Sanders, Secretary General, PDGN (Parliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network). This event was hosted by The Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) in partnership with the PDGN and was sponsored by Dexcom.
Our final CWD Event of the week was the third annual Children with Diabetes President’s Award for Innovation Reception and Dinner at the St. Regis Hotel in Florence. This award is presented to the healthcare professional who exemplifies extraordinary leadership in innovation and advancements in technology for insulin delivery and devices that help people thrive, sponsored by our friends at Dexcom and Sanofi. This year’s recipient was Bruce Buckingham, M.D., Professor Emeritus of the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology at Stanford Medical Center and Stanford Children’s Hospital. Renowned for his groundbreaking research in continuous glucose monitoring in children and closed-loop (artificial pancreas) systems, Dr. Buckingham has served as the principal investigator in multiple NIH, JDRF, and Helmsley-sponsored research studies. At the dinner, after being presented with a solid silver President’s Medal, Dr. Buckingham took the stage and shared heartfelt comments with attendees about changes in diabetes technology during his professional career. This special evening filled our hearts and our camera rolls with memories we will never forget!
While recovering from jet lag, the CWD team explored the historic towns of Rome and Florence. We started our day with cappuccinos, dined on fresh pasta and pizza, peeked in quaint family-owned shops, had our fair share of Aperol Spritzers, and concluded most evenings with gelato. As many of our team members have diabetes, we learned that Italian cuisine and Italian carbs affected us differently than typical American foods. Our “green bands” learned to double up on fruit snacks and applesauce pouches before leaving the hotel each morning to help combat low blood sugars. We walked miles, laughed as we said “Ciao!,” and enjoyed our time abroad together as a team. 
ATTD 2024 was one for the Italian-bound leather memory books! It was great connecting with many of our Fiffles and faculty members in Italy. We loved sharing our CWD coins and our Journey Awards with people living their very best lives with diabetes. As we pack up our suitcases (for now), we are so thankful for the generous support of our sponsors and for YOU for joining us on this journey.
Until next time, Arrivederci!
Green and Orange Forever,
Leigh
Written by Leigh Fickling, JD, MEd, MS
