Technology Takes Center Stage at American Diabetes Association 79th Scientific Sessions

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions took place early this month and the team at Monarch was once again in attendance. With five days of comprehensive education and presentations, this year’s session was packed with updates, insights, and new announcements in diabetes care.

While a swing through the exhibit hall shows the latest in the rapidly advancing diabetes technology, diabetes technology also took center stage at this year’s sessions. With sessions discussing the artificial pancreas, digital applications for diabetes treatment and prevention, and hypoglycemia and technology, technology was an area of focus for attendees.

During the ADA’s Diabetes Technology Special Interest Group, speakers addressed the benefits of new technology, but also the challenges that clinicians face that can contribute to clinical inertia. Panelist Jenise C. Wong, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, stated “staying up to date on the latest technology, matching features to individual patients with individual needs, ensuring adequate staffing and support to interpret data and assist patients with problems, and handling vast stores of data are all challenges that clinicians face.” In the end, the panelists agreed that they key with all technologies is to bring it back to the patient—focusing on what will work best for each individual patient will help with engagement and adoption.

The goal to focus on the patient in adopting technology was echoed by EndoTool inventor, Dr. Patrick Burgess. In an interview with MD Magazine discussing the retrospective study, Impact of Late Glucose Checks on Hypoglycemia Incidence, which showed the quantitative effect of late determinations on the incidence of hypoglycemia, Dr. Burgess was asked what was the most important discussion taking place at ADA this year. In his opinion, it was the demonstration of all technology that’s being directed towards diabetes care and how all the solutions will eventually work together to truly benefit the patient.

As Dr. Burgess said, “What patients want is easier care. Care that’s allows them to have perfect control with less effort so they can lead a more normal life and that makes sense, and it’s going to be interesting to see how the technology blends together.”