Otis W. Kirksey, PharmD, RPh, CDCES, BC-ADM, ADA President, Health Care & Education, discussed his dedication to the diabetes community on Saturday, June 4, saying that improving the lives of people with diabetes takes equal parts of dedication and hard work.

Amy Hess-Fischl, MS, RDN, LDN, BC-ADM, CDCES, received the ADA’s 2022 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award at the 82nd Scientific Sessions. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) should be the standard-of-care for every person with diabetes, she said.

Davida F. Kruger, MSN, APN-BC, BC-ADM, told women at the Saturday afternoon symposium that if they’re not invited to the table, show up anyway—with a chair. And keep moving that chair closer and closer to the table.

Physical activity is an integral part of the diabetes management toolbox, but not everyone responds to physical activity the same way or has the ability to exercise regularly. A panel of exercise scientists, including Carlos Crespo, PhD, examined how health disparities and sex differences impact physical activity during a morning symposium on Saturday, June 4.

During an afternoon symposium on Friday, June 3, a diverse interprofessional panel of experts—including an epidemiologist, a health services researcher, a historian, and a medical anthropologist—shared their work and insights on the role of race and racism in diabetes research and diabetes care. “Implicit bias training alone does not work in terms of being sustainable.…

Four experts, including Satish K. Garg, MD, and Holly Willis, PhD, RDN, CDCES, will discuss practical strategies to improve eating habits and optimize the growing number of insulin-dosing options to improve glucose control, increase time in range, reduce A1C, and lower the risk of long-term complications from poor glucose control.

Jamie Feldman, MD, will chair a Scientific Sessions symposium examining diabetes, metabolic health, and clinical care among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, queer, or questioning.

The prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes ranges from 17.4% of African Americans to 13.6% of White Non-Hispanic Americans, but the outcomes are far different. Nationwide, Black people with diabetes are 2.2-fold more likely to die than White people, according to Joshua J. Joseph, MD, MPH, FAHA.

During a Friday afternoon session, an interprofessional panel of experts provided their perspectives and reviewed some of the most current literature on improving outcomes across the cardio-renal-metabolic spectrum of diabetes. “In the tsunami of diabetes, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary therapy is essential if we are going to continue to improve outcomes,” said Neda Rasouli, MD.

Alison Evert, MS, RDN, CDCES (left), and Maureen Chomko, RD, CDCES, addressed several nutrition controversies—from net carbs to fad diets to meal and snack frequency—during a mini-symposium on the first day of the 82nd Scientific Sessions.