American Diabetes Association 75th Scientific Sessions
In 1940, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) was founded by 28 physicians. During its first 30 years, the ADA limited its membership to physicians, health professionals, and corporations, but then underwent a reorganization in 1970, during which membership was expanded to include general members. Now, 75 years later, the ADA continues working to fight the consequences of diabetes and to help those affected by the disease. The Association funds research to manage, cure, and prevent diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; and provides information for both patients and healthcare professionals.
In keeping with its mission, the ADA annually hosts the largest diabetes meeting in the world. The 75th anniversary of the ADA’s Scientific Sessions, held June 5–9, 2015, in Boston, MA, brought together more than 18,000 attendees, including nearly 15,000 clinicians from all 50 states and 130 countries who are involved in diabetes research and care. The 5-day meeting featured timely and significant advances in basic science and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes, presented in symposia, state-of-the-art lectures, current issue sessions, poster discussions, and oral presentations. The sessions were designed to improve care of the patient with diabetes by providing members of the healthcare team with an educational program to enhance their knowledge, advance their skills, and apprise them of the latest research developments. This year’s meeting was organized into eight theme areas covering the latest in the field of diabetes: acute and chronic complications; behavioral medicine, clinical nutrition, education, and exercise; clinical diabetes therapeutics; epidemiology and genetics; immunology and transplantation; insulin activity and molecular metabolism; integrated physiology and obesity; and islet biology and insulin secretion.
Impact of Hypoglycemia on Morbidity and Mortality
Hypoglycemia can have serious consequences in patients with diabetes, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, errors in using insulin also increase risk of hypoglycemia, according to a panel of diabetes experts who discussed the impacts of hypoglycemia during a symposium at the ADA meeting. Read More
Advances in Diabetic Eye Disease Treatment
Patients with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy—a term used for all abnormalities of the small blood vessels of the retina caused by diabetes. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the leading cause of moderate vision loss, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of severe vision loss. Read More
Challenges with Treating Diabetic Foot
Up to 50% of older adults with type 2 diabetes have multiple risk factors for foot ulceration. Foot ulcers and other lower-limb complications secondary to diabetes are common, challenging, and costly. Presenters discussed the cost of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), the 3-minute foot exam, and how to build a diabetic foot care team. Read More
Diabetes and Cognitive Function
The effect of diabetes on cognitive dysfunction is garnering more attention, particularly since both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been associated with reduced performance on various domains of cognitive function. This topic was addressed during a symposium at the ADA meeting. Read More
