A comprehensive overview of the work of the American Diabetes Association’s^® (ADA’s) Professional Practice Committee was presented Saturday, June 6, during The ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes: 2026 Updates. Six panelists explained the latest additions and changes within selected chapters to the Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026 (Standards of Care), the gold standard in evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes.

New information and guidance on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), technology considerations, and tailoring disease management to the unique circumstances of individuals living with diabetes were recurring themes among the featured chapters. On-demand access to recorded presentations will be available to registered participants of the 2026 Scientific Sessions through August 10.

Elizabeth Ann Beverly, PhD, the Ralph S. Licklider, DO, Endowed Professor in Behavioral Diabetes at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, addressed the chapter “Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-Being to Improve Health Outcomes,” zeroing in on recommendations and evidence-based treatments regarding behavioral strategies to support diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES).

“This means to incorporate motivational interviewing, incorporate goal setting, and incorporate problem solving,” said Dr. Beverly, adding that DSMES integrates cultural appropriateness. ”It’s also important that you communicate DSMES with the diabetes care team, tailoring education to their language preference, health literacy, food traditions, technology access, and family involvement.”

Recommended clinical workflow changes include strengthening DSMES referral pathways, weight management counseling, and team communication, with insight into recommendations focused on weight management, religious fasting, diabetes distress, and anxiety screenings.

“The important clinical message that you should share with the people you’re working with is small, sustainable changes matter, and then emphasize that small changes can have a significant clinical benefit,” Dr. Beverly said.

Alissa Segal, PharmD, CDCES, FCCP, Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, shared updates to the chapter “Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Management,” which expand upon special populations, such as people with advanced chronic kidney disease or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and features new subsections on hyperglycemia during cancer treatment and immunotherapy. This is also one of multiple chapters with updates on technology.

“We now recommend AID (automated insulin delivery) systems should be offered for all adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who are on insulin,” Dr. Segal said.

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, outlined changes to the Standards of Care chapter devoted to diabetes technology, emphasizing the importance of removing access barriers for improved outcomes.

“We say the type and selection of devices should be individualized based on a person’s specific needs, circumstances, preferences, and skill levels,” she said. “I think most people need even more education and support in order to learn how to use and troubleshoot the devices. I don’t think you can use devices well unless you’ve had people who can help you understand and use them, and we’ve seen that if you have access to that kind of care, you can actually improve outcomes.”

Changes to the chapter “Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management” were presented by Dave L. Dixon, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, FNLA, BCACP, CLS, Chair of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science and Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy. Referencing a wide range of clinical trials, he highlighted the role of GLP-1 RAs in reducing cardiovascular risk.

“The importance of cardiovascular disease prevention in people with diabetes cannot be understated. Cardiovascular disease risk is at least double that among individuals with diabetes compared to the general population,” Dr. Dixon said, specifying that includes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure, which is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with diabetes. “As a result, massive multifactorial risk reduction is critical to reduce risk in this population.”

Emily D. Szmuilowicz, MD, MS, Professor, Northwestern University, summarized the revised “Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy.” In addition to preconception counseling, blood pressure thresholds, and recommendations on circumstances that warrant the continued usage of lipid-lowering medications, she shared GLP-1 RA guidance.

“According to the Canadian prescribing information, it’s recommended to discontinue at least one month before pregnancy, as there is no recommendation about this in U.S. prescribing information,” she said. “Importantly, it’s not just about stopping these therapies. We thought it was really important to emphasize the importance of achieving glycemic goals before getting off of these therapies and before conception. So, before attempting conception, preconception glycemic goals should be achieved following the continuation of these therapies.”

Lori Michelle Laffel, MD, MPH, Chief of the Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section and a Senior Investigator/Head of the Section on Clinical, Behavioral and Outcomes Research at Joslin Diabetes Center, and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, offered updates “Diabetes in Children and Adolescents,” noting that pediatric care warrants unique tailoring.

“We have to contend with ongoing growth and emotional development,” Dr. Laffel said. “We have multiple transitions in childhood, and we often say children with diabetes change within seasons. These transitions are going into puberty, during puberty, and post-puberty, and then navigating adolescence.”

Updated recommendations support offering continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in diabetes management at diagnosis, or as soon as possible, to children and adolescents with diabetes who are capable of using CGM devices safely, either independently or with caregivers.

“We have to offer AID systems for diabetes management,” said Dr. Laffel. “The mantra we keep repeating is that choice of device should be individualized based upon the person with diabetes and family circumstances, desires, and needs.”

Save the date

Make plans to join us June 18–21, 2027, for the 2027 Scientific Sessions at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. Registration will open in January.