Previewing the ATTD 2023 Annual Conference
By Andrew Briskin
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The diaTribe team is headed to Berlin, Germany, to cover this year’s Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) conference! Here’s a preview of some sessions we will cover, featuring the latest news in diabetes technology, prevention, managing complications, and more.
The annual ATTD conference gathers thousands of leading experts in diabetes care and technology, kicking off on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Sessions will run through Feb. 25, covering a variety of topics including advancements in insulin delivery, glucose monitoring, and the behavioral impacts of using technology.
Insulin delivery
Starting on Thursday, Feb. 23, two sessions will discuss advances in automated insulin delivery (AID) – one that focuses on the real-world experiences of AID users in several different European countries, and another on using glucose data from AID systems to improve future algorithms. In another session on Friday, Feb. 24, experts will break down new data on AID during exercise, and cover the challenges and potential solutions to creating a fully automated closed-loop system.
A Thursday afternoon session will focus on decision support systems, specifically how virtual support helps people make diabetes management decisions with their devices.
Shifting slightly from the tech-centered focus of the conference, in a session on Feb. 24, experts will provide an update on the development of a once-weekly insulin option, two of which are currently being investigated in large clinical trials.
Glucose monitoring
On Thursday morning, several of the world’s leading experts on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) will talk about the future of CGM use for people with type 2 diabetes, specifically for those who do not take insulin or who take only long-acting insulin.
Expanding on the topic of CGM, a session on Friday, Feb. 24 will discuss the advantages of using time in range and other CGM metrics for improving glucose levels – in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
On the evening of Friday the 24th, diaTribe will also host its Solvable Problems in Diabetes panel discussion on the topic of “The Future of Diabetes: Time in Range & CGM.” The panel will feature four of the most prominent female leaders in diabetes care, research and advocacy, discussing the ways that CGM technology can further improve the lives of people with diabetes.
Finally, two sessions on the 23rd and 24th will explore the future possibilities for wearable glucose monitors.
The session on Feb. 23 will cover advancements in continuous ketone monitoring as a way to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and developing devices that measure other important substances in the blood in addition to glucose.
Another session on Feb. 24 focuses on advances in non-invasive glucose monitoring, specifically whether measuring breath is a realistic option, as well as how close we are to a practical device.
Diabetes tech and mental health
Going a step beyond the focus on technological advancement, experts at the conference will also address how people with diabetes interact with their devices, from the positive mental health effects of improved glucose management to the potential distress from constant alerts and alarms.
A session on Feb. 24 will focus on fear of hyperglycemia, how parents of children with type 1 experience this fear, and the role that technology can play in limiting it. Another session on Feb. 25 directly addresses the impact of technology on diabetes distress levels, strategies to limit tech-related distress, and the factors that matter most to a person with diabetes when choosing technology.
We are also excited to cover a presentation by diaTribe Stigma Program Manager Matthew Garza on Friday, Feb. 24, on the role that stigma plays in using diabetes tech. His presentation focuses on new research about the impact of diabetes stigma – or the prejudice, shame, and self-judgment that people with diabetes unfairly experience as a result of their condition – on someone’s willingness to use different devices like a pump or CGM.
Complications, prevention, and more
Several sessions throughout the conference will discuss the latest treatments for the different complications of diabetes. Sessions on the morning of Feb. 24 will feature discussions on treating heart disease as well as the impact of diabetes on skin care. An additional session on Feb. 25 will take a closer look at treatments for foot injuries and how technology can be used to monitor and help prevent diabetes-related foot complications.
Two sessions on the final day of the conference will also focus on preventing type 1 diabetes and the role that technology might play after a positive antibody test, but before insulin production stops.
The diaTribe team is on the ground in Berlin, and we look forward to bringing you the most exciting updates from the wide variety of topics at ATTD 2023! Watch for our special edition mailer this Saturday, Feb. 25, where we will share exciting highlights from the first days of the conference, followed by additional coverage on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
