The Children with Diabetes team just returned from a steamy hot Orlando and the 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. As we unpack our bags and start our laundry from the trip, we can’t wait to share this recap of our time at the conference. Grab an iced coffee, and let’s get ready to recap Sci Sessions!
The American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions is described as the world’s largest meeting on diabetes, offering educational sessions and networking opportunities for those in the diabetes community and industry. There were over 11,000 in attendance who represented over 115 countries. The conference aims to accelerate progress toward preventing diabetes, working towards a cure for diabetes, and improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The conference was held at the massive Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The Rosen Plaza Hotel was our home away from home during the conference. Our hotel was connected to the convention center by a skywalk bridge, and it was a 1.34-mile trip to the convention and back each day. We activated workout mode on our watches daily when walking to and from the convention center because we hated letting all those steps go to waste!
The CWD team enjoyed visiting the large exhibit hall and visiting with our Friends for Life sponsors, exhibitors, and industry partners. When visiting the exhibit hall, we are on the lookout for innovations in managing diabetes and hope to make connections with new companies that would be of interest to our CWD family. This year, we learned of new insulin pumps that will soon be on the US market and were awed at how many companies are using AI as part of their product lines going forward. Additionally, advances are being made in cell therapy and screening for type 1 diabetes. We met during one-on-one sessions with several industry partners, reflected on 2024, and discussed common goals and objectives for 2025 and beyond. We also had the opportunity to attend several receptions with our colleagues in the diabetes community.
On Friday, CWD Events hosted a Lunch and Learn on the topic of “Screening for Type 1 Diabetes.” The members of the audience included healthcare providers and faculty members from major health systems across the country. This lunch was sponsored by our friends at Sanofi and was facilitated by FFL Faculty member and pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Kimber Simmons of the Barbara Davis Center. Dr. Simmons is a physician-scientist who studies the genetic, metabolic, and immunologic diversity of autoimmune disease, with a focus on type 1 diabetes. This conversational style session was so informative for everyone in the room and the conversation about screening for diabetes continued long after the lunch ended.
On Saturday, CWD Events hosted a Lunch and Learn on the topic of “Best Practices: Making the Standard of Care a Standard of Practice for Ready-to-Use Glucagon.” This session was sponsored by our friends at Xeris Pharmaceuticals and included a panel discussion facilitated by Jessica Adkins (Co-Owner and Nurse Practitioner, Everyday Diabetes Center in Savannah, Georgia), Dr. David M. Kayne (Providence Cedars Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, Los Angeles, California) and Kenny Rodenheiser (CDCES and Patient with T1D). During the lunch event, healthcare providers learned more about options for rescue medications and the importance of prescribing rescue medications to patients in the same manner that insulin or pump supplies are prescribed. Guests had an opportunity to practice with a glucagon demo kit and became more comfortable with integrating glucagon into their standard of care for patients with diabetes.
On Sunday, CWD and our friends at the Diabetes Leadership Council and the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition hosted an Industry Reception for our key partners in the diabetes industry. This reception was standing-room only and is one of my favorite events of the year! During the reception, attendees can spend time with colleagues in a relaxed and informal manner as the CWD-DLC-DPAC teams say THANK YOU for your partnership over the past year. The Industry Reception is by invitation only, and we always have a very long waiting list of people who would like to join us for this fun social event.
On Monday, we concluded our time at ADA by hosting the CWD-ISPAD Dinner. This event was sponsored by our friends at Dexcom and Sanofi. This annual dinner event celebrates the partnership between Children with Diabetes and the leadership of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes. ISPAD is a professional organization that aims to promote clinical and basic science, research, education, and advocacy in childhood and adolescent diabetes. ISPAD is the only international society focusing specifically on all types of childhood diabetes. We enjoyed reconnecting with our ISPAD Friends for Life and can’t wait to celebrate their 50th annual conference this fall in Lisbon, Portugal.
After a very busy week, the CWD team packed our bags and left Orlando and ADA 2024. As we gave our final hugs to our diabetes friends and colleagues, we noted that we would return to Orlando in less than two weeks for our Friends for Life conference. It was a great week with exciting learning opportunities and many new connections to the global diabetes community. We can’t wait for the year ahead!
See you in two weeks, MCO.
Green and Orange Forever,
Leigh
Written by Leigh Fickling, JD, MEd, MS
