Ni Hao! The Children with Diabetes team just returned from our most epic travel adventure yet…Singapore, the Lion City, and the 1st Asian Conference on Innovative Therapies for Diabetes Management (ATTD-Asia). We traveled halfway around the globe to meet with clinicians, diabetes care providers, researchers, industry partners, and people with diabetes who all share the common mission of facilitating the care of people with diabetes at the fastest possible pace. So, grab your bowl of ramen soup and join us as we recap our amazing experience in Asia!
The Children with Diabetes team traveled from the East Coast of the United States to Asia for this inaugural conference event. After several domestic layovers and an international layover in Seoul, South Korea, we finally landed in Singapore. We were 13 hours ahead of our friends and families at our respective home bases. Our team spent the first day or two in Singapore adjusting to the new time zone and acclimating to the weather conditions in our “home away from home.” 
The weather reminded us of being in Orlando for Friends for Life in July—hot and humid! The average high temperature each day of our trip was in the upper 90’s and each day had a thunderstorm as part of the forecast. We joked that we felt prepared for the weather thanks to the time that we spend in steamy Florida each year for our FFL conferences. The city of Singapore is breathtakingly beautiful and so clean. Did you know that littering, spitting, and chewing gum are serious offenses in Singapore and can result in fines or even imprisonment? Before the ATTD-Asia conference started, we had the opportunity to visit several well-known local landmarks like the Merlion and Gardens by the Bay. We enjoyed trying local cuisines at the hawker markets and other family-owned restaurants. After a few days of de-jet-lagging, our smiling faces were ready to take on the conference.
ATTD-Asia was held at the Raffles City Convention Centre, which was conveniently located adjacent to The Swissotel, The Stamford, in Singapore. Upon registration and check-in, each attendee was given a name badge, a pocket program detailing the week’s events, and a snazzy black backpack. Conference meals and coffee breaks were served in the long hallways of the convention space next to the Exhibition area. Conference attendees spent time socializing with each other during breaks and exchanging business cards so that they could keep in touch long after the conference ended. The CWD team created an “office away from our offices” in the foyer of the convention space. From our workspace, we met with key stakeholders in the diabetes community. We awarded Journey Awards to those who had reached the milestones of 10, 25, 50, or 75 years with diabetes. We shared stories about our families who attend our Friends for Life conferences and learned that there are many more people out there in the great big world who are seeking a supportive community like the one that so many of you have helped us create at CWD. 
We also attended presentations and discussions that were part of the scientific program during the conference. Topics included closed-and-open loop systems, new insulins and medications, pregnancy and diabetes, and so much more. Conference Chairs Professors Moshe Phillip and Tadej Battelino did an amazing job of curating some of the world’s top experts on diabetes management and assembled them into an all-star faculty lineup for the conference. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at this inaugural event and look forward to connecting with many of our new friends over the coming months with the hopes that we can bring much of this information to our own Friends for Life conferences in 2025.
On Monday, November 18, 2024, Children with Diabetes hosted the CWD President’s Reception in the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach. This invitation-only event was designed to allow guests the opportunity to network and socialize after the conference day concluded. This inaugural event was sponsored by our friends at Dexcom and featured brief remarks from Jeff Hitchcock, CWD’s President and Founder, and Kenneth Moritsugu, MD, MPH, FACPM, Rear Admiral, USPHS (Retired), CWD’s Chairman of the Board. During the reception, the CWD team awarded Journey Awards to 18 dedoc voices participants from Asia. This joyful celebration was one of the highlights of the week!
We had an amazing experience at ATTD-Asia and are already counting the days until next year’s congress. The friendships and connections that we made in Singapore are built to last and we are excited about our collaborations with our new Friends for Life. We will miss our daily ramen adventures and dream of the day when we will return to the “other side of the world.”
Until then…..
Green and Orange Forever,
Leigh
Written by Leigh Fickling, JD, MEd, MS
