What's Next in Diabetes Care: New Treatments and Tech Insights

In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Rachael Sood, a diabetes nurse practitioner and certified diabetes care and education specialist from New Orleans, Louisiana, shares her insights from the 85th American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions. As the founder of The Diabetes Collective, Dr. Sood discusses the evolution of diabetology—a specialized field focused solely on the identification, treatment, and management of diabetes across all patient populations. Dr. Sood explores how personalized diagnostics, innovative technology, and education-driven care models are reshaping outcomes for patients with type 1, type 2, and prediabetes. She highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis, the role of genetic predisposition, and why clinicians must move beyond relying solely on hemoglobin A1C levels to ensure proper disease identification and management. Episode Highlights Transforming the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes Dr. Sood explains the principles of diabetology and how it differs from traditional endocrinology. She emphasizes comprehensive assessment, including antibody screening, glucose monitoring, and the integration of genomic insights to accurately distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Technology as a Game-Changer in Diabetes Care Dr. Sood shares how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps have revolutionized real-time patient engagement. These smart biosensors empower patients to understand how lifestyle, stress, and nutrition directly affect glucose levels, fostering self-awareness and adherence to treatment plans. Overcoming Clinical Inertia and Patient Barriers She highlights the need to address clinical inertia, encouraging clinicians to adapt treatment plans as patients' needs evolve. Dr. Sood underscores the importance of patient education, empathy, and collaboration with family and community networks to improve adherence and reduce care fatigue. Breakthroughs in Treatment and Research Reporting from the ADA conference, Dr. Sood discusses the promising results of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' islet cell therapy, which shows evidence of restoring natural insulin production in type 1 diabetes. She also explains the role of TZLD (teplizumab) in delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes, potentially changing the disease trajectory for high-risk patients. Next-Generation Therapies and GLP-1 Innovation Dr. Sood breaks down the expanding role of GLP-1 receptor agonists—from glucose regulation to benefits in cardiovascular health, weight management, and chronic kidney disease. She reveals data on the new CagreSema combination therapy, which combines semaglutide with an amylin analog, showing over 20% weight reduction and improved metabolic outcomes. Insurance and Access Challenges Dr. Sood addresses the ongoing struggle of insurance coverage, prior authorizations, and high costs for new medications, offering practical advice for clinicians and patients to navigate access through manufacturer programs and cash-based options. Key Takeaway Dr. Sood emphasizes that diabetes care is entering a transformative era—one defined by early detection, patient empowerment, and precision medicine. With new therapies, technologies, and care models emerging rapidly, collaboration among clinicians, patients, and innovators will be essential to achieving long-term success in diabetes prevention and management. Resources Website: https://mdnewsline.com/ Newsletter: https://mdnewsline.com/subscribe/ Connect with Dr. Rachael Sood: Here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.