The gold standard in evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes, the Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 (Standards of Care),contains multiple chapters focusing on essential themes in diabetes treatment and management, all based on an extensive review of clinical diabetes literature, supplemented with input from American Diabetes Association^® (ADA) staff and the medical community at large.

Experts from across diabetes care fields will discuss selected chapters of the document at the symposium, The ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes: 2026 Updates, which takes place on Saturday, June 6 from 8:00–9:30 a.m. in La Nouvelle Orleans B of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. On-demand access to recorded presentations will be available to registered participants following the conclusion of the Scientific Sessions, from June 10–August 10.

Anne Peters, MD, Director of the Clinical Diabetes Program and Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, characterized the Standards of Care as a powerful tool that benefits researchers, clinicians, and people living with diabetes.

“The Standards of Care demands a rigor of thinking in ways that are clear and supported by evidence. It forces us to look at the literature and to see what does and doesn’t support what we might believe to be correct,” Dr. Peters said. “Having these standards also makes it easier for us to talk with insurers, patients, and primary care providers because it allows us to refer to data in discussing recommendations and best practices.”

Presenting the chapter on diabetes technology, Dr. Peters will summarize recommendations related to the hardware and software used to assist with self-management of insulin administration and blood glucose measurement.

“The whole world of diabetes is evolving as technology is spreading into all aspects of diabetes therapy, such as pediatrics, older adult populations, school environments, the workplace, pregnancy care, pharmacology, and more,” Dr. Peters said, adding that the recommendations must be paired with actions.

She characterized the 2026 technology recommendations as updates on essential, ongoing conversations at a time when technology increasingly affects nearly all areas of monitoring and providing diabetes care.

“The focus for all of us is to ensure technology access for everybody, as well as the education that goes with it,” she said. “Technology makes life different and better for many people living with diabetes, and the role of educators in assisting people with technology becomes more important than ever.”

Education in diabetes care will be an essential theme in the presentation from Elizabeth Ann Beverly, PhD, the Ralph S. Licklider, DO, Endowed Professor in Behavioral Diabetes at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She will review the chapter “Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-Being to Improve Health Outcomes,” which focuses on person-centered collaborative care and approaches to building positive health behaviors and maintaining psychological health as foundations for achieving diabetes management goals and quality of life.

Dr. Beverly plans to highlight the chapter’s behavioral health recommendations beyond nutrition and direct blood glucose management. These recommendations are based on studies referenced in the chapter that point to improved health outcomes through informed, team-based, person-centered care. She will also talk about screening recommendations and referral pathways for behavioral health issues associated with elevated A1C levels.

“These recommendations are about providing psychosocial care and reducing the risk of complications by ensuring that people living with diabetes are supported in safe, stable environments in addition to managing their glucose levels,” Dr. Beverly said. “Psychosocial care can seem daunting, but at its core, it is simply asking, ‘Are you okay?’ It’s making sure that we are caring for the whole person—not just the condition.” 

Emily D. Szmuilowicz, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Program Director for the Endocrinology Fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, will provide an overview of recent changes to the chapter “Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy.” She will discuss considerations regarding preconception discontinuation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide(GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and will emphasize the need to achieve preconception glycemic goals after discontinuing these agents and before becoming pregnant. She will also discuss recent evidence and controversies regarding the management of hyperglycemia during early pregnancy.

“There’s a lot of controversy regarding how to manage mild hyperglycemia that is less severe than overt diabetes when it’s detected on early pregnancy screening for overt diabetes. Do we derive incremental benefit from treating mild hyperglycemia in early pregnancy? It’s an evolving issue that affects a lot of people,” said Dr. Szmuilowicz, adding that the chapter’s recommendations represent the latest possible consensus, informed by recent publications, such as secondary analyses of the Treatment of Booking Gestational Diabetes Mellitus study.

“I think of the Standards of Care as a living document, rigorously reviewed and updated every year to highlight the most important advances, changes, and studies relevant to clinical practice. It is an incredibly important document and the best source of information to guide clinical practice today in the care of people with diabetes,” Dr. Szmuilowicz said.

Additional presenters include:

• Alissa Segal, PharmD, CDCES, FCCP, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, on the “Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Management” chapter
• Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, FNLA, BCACP, CLS, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy, on the “Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management” chapter
• Lori Michelle Laffel, MD, MPH, Joslin Diabetes Center, on the “Diabetes in Children and Adolescents” chapter

Register Today for the 2026 Scientific Sessions

Register to join us in New Orleans June 5–8 to learn about the latest advances in diabetes research, prevention, and care. After the meeting, registered participants will have on-demand access to recorded presentations.