ADCES25: Thriving in Diabetes Care & Education

The last week was a whirlwind of learning, growing, connecting, and plenty of laughs. Because when a bunch of diabetes care and education specialists get together, you know you’ve found your people. Who else gets excited to talk about CGM reports, autoantibody labs, and even bowel movements at 10 PM on a Saturday night? (Definitely a good call to leave the family at home for this one!)

Every year when I head to the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Annual Conference, I’m reminded how powerful it is to have a strong professional network, especially when you’re running your own business. This year was no different. Keep reading for some of my favorite highlights from the conference!

Transforming Diabetes Care

The educational sessions this year were nothing short of transformative, which, coincidentally, was the actual title of one of the first sessions I attended. While there were countless sessions worth highlighting, I want to spotlight just a few that I’m still thinking about as I sit down to write this (nearly a week later!).

The Value of the DCES as a Compassionate Disruptor

I am always drawn to sessions that highlight the value of the diabetes care and education specialist. Speakers Erin DaRosa, MBA, RDN, LD, CDCES, and Teresa Martin, MS, RDN, CDCES, LD, demonstrated how their work can truly transform the care and education experience.

DCESs regularly show measurable impact through empathy, innovation, and person-centered solutions. Did you know that their “disruption” in healthcare often leads to better outcomes?

Erin and Teresa emphasized the proven value of DSME, noting that even a 1% reduction in A1C can save an average of $1,200 per person. Despite this, referrals and utilization remain low. They highlighted the importance of access and workflows and encouraged clinicians to take advantage of the ADCES comprehensive toolkit that support innovative care and empower people with diabetes to live well.

Leveraging Technology with Older Adults

Who says older adults cannot excel in diabetes technology? In fact, the newest standards of care recommend a comprehensive and equitable approach to technology use. That does not mean a one-size-fits-all model, but rather thoughtful considerations to help different groups thrive.

Dr. Nancy Allen, PhD, and Dr. Christina Whitehouse, PhD, AGPCNP-BC, CDCES, FADCES, shared important insights and best practices to consider when implementing diabetes technology for older adult populations.

They highlighted the use of the 4Ms Framework of Age-Friendly Health Systems to address person-specific issues that can affect diabetes management, including mentation, medications, mobility, and what “matters” most.

Special guest and patient advocate, Joanne Milo, also brought forward a powerful list of features older adults would like to see in diabetes technology. Her suggestions included quick checklist apps, larger displays and buttons, more voice-over or voice-activated features, and seamless integration with other devices.

I hope the diabetes technology companies in the exhibitor hall were listening and taking notes!

Cooking for Blood Sugar Balance

At the end of the day, the nutrition professional in me knows my passion is food. I love finding ways to show the value of nutrition and inspire a love of eating, even when chronic disease can make food feel more like a prescription than a pleasure

Dietitian and culinary expert Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND, shared how she brings nutrition education to life through practical, impactful applications. She is a strong advocate for simple, delicious, and culturally inclusive cooking demonstrations. Vandana emphasized that diabetes care and education specialists can deliver engaging demos in clinical, community, and virtual settings.

This is key to empowering clients with culturally sensitive, blood-sugar-friendly meal planning strategies that are realistic and easy to implement in everyday life.

Vandana also left us with some memorable sound bites:

- “When education includes culture, we thrive.”
- “People don’t live in the books, they live in their kitchen.”
- “Culture is not a challenge to overcome. It’s the solution to embrace.”

She is truly a media pro!

Exhibitor Hall

Of course, one of my favorite places to visit is the exhibitor hall. There were familiar booths like Dexcom, Libre, and Beta Bionics, as well as some newer players in the market such as Pivot (Modular Medical) and the Insulin Chiller. I even caught a glimpse of myself at the ADCES booth; a reminder that I first attended ADCES two years ago thanks to a foundation grant.

I also had the chance to catch up with my fellow ADCES Colorado board members and colleagues, Sarah and Tammy. Even though we live in the same state, it seems we have to fly hundreds of miles away just to meet in person!

Networking and Connection

And finally, the networking and professional connections is one of the biggest reasons I continue to attend year after year. From my work on the National Professional Practice Committee and the Entrepreneurship Community of Interest, to serving as an ADCES Media Spokesperson, and soon joining the ADCES National Board of Directors, time spent networking at ADCES helps me put faces to names and personalities to bios. I feel more connected and supported than ever before.

It was also wonderful to meet and reconnect with members of the Nourish nutrition team, as well as Dr. Nancy Allen, with whom I help support through the University of Utah on a type 1 diabetes research study.

ADCES26: Columbus, Here We Come

As always, I am already looking forward to next year, this time in Columbus, Ohio. It may be a little less hot, but likely more humid. If you are looking for transformative education sessions, hand ons product demos (and samples), and the chance to connect and truly “find your people,” ADCES26 next August is the place for you. Hope to see you there!