Miller School of Medicine Diabetes Day: Breakthroughs in Prevention, Treatment and Technology
Summary
- The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine brought together local and national experts for its annual UM Diabetes Day conference.
- Dr. Jay Skyler’s presentation outlined major progress in understanding the autoimmune origins of type 1 diabetes.
- Dr. Rodolfo Galindo gave insight on how continuous glucose monitors and continuous ketone monitoring have changed diabetes patient care.
The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine brought together local and national experts for its second annual UM Diabetes Day conference. The event, the Miami Cardio-Reno-Metabolic Conference, drew more than 200 attendees to UM’s Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, and offered a comprehensive look at advances shaping the future of type 1 and type 2 diabetes care, obesity treatment and emerging technology.
“This event brings together the brightest minds to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time,” said Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D., professor and chief of the division and co-director of the conference. “The science is accelerating faster than ever, and our responsibility is to bring these discoveries to the patients who need them most.”
Type 1 Diabetes: Earlier Detection and Smarter Treatment
The program began with Jay Skyler, M.D., professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Miller School and deputy director for clinical research and academic programs at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). His presentation outlined major progress in understanding the autoimmune origins of type 1 diabetes. He emphasized the roles of genetic risk markers, autoantibodies and early screening to identify the disease years before symptoms appear. Although most prevention trials have shown limited results, Dr. Skyler highlighted teplizumab as a breakthrough capable of delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes in high-risk individuals.
“While we’ve made remarkable strides in understanding the genetic and immunological roots of type 1 diabetes, translating these insights into effective prevention remains our greatest challenge,” Dr. Skyler said. “The future lies in early identification and targeted intervention, giving hope to families and clinicians alike.”
Building on that foundation, Halis Kaan Akturk, M.D., from the University of Colorado, reviewed new insulin therapies that are reshaping daily management. Once-weekly basal insulins such as icodec and efsitora may offer similar glucose control with fewer injections, though they carry a slightly higher risk of hypoglycemia.
Dr. Akturk also highlighted ultra-rapid and inhaled insulins that improve post-meal glucose management, reflecting a movement toward more personalized, technology-driven diabetes care.
Transforming Diabetes Care Through Technology
The role of diabetes technology took center stage as Rodolfo Galindo, M.D., associate professor in the Miller School’s Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and founder and co-director of the conference, gave further insight on how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and continuous ketone monitoring (CKM) are advancing patient care.
“CGMs and CKM are not just tools. They’re game-changers,” Dr. Galindo said. “They allow us to intervene earlier, educate patients more effectively and ultimately improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.”
Eda Cengiz, M.D., from the University of California, San Francisco, further elaborated on the topic as she presented the latest automated insulin delivery systems that integrate CGMs with intelligent pumps to adjust insulin throughout the day.
These systems reduce the daily management burden, limit dangerous highs and lows and provide users with more flexibility. However, Dr. Cengiz stressed that technology works best when supported by strong patient–provider collaboration.
Type 2 Diabetes: Biology, Prevention and the Power of GLP-1 Therapies
The afternoon sessions turned to type 2 diabetes, beginning with Daniel Drucker, M.D., from the University of Toronto, whose work helped shape GLP-1–based medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. He explained how these medications go far beyond lowering blood sugar. They reduce appetite, improve heart and kidney health, decrease inflammation and show early promise for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. With powerful combination therapies and oral versions emerging, GLP-1 drugs represent one of the most rapidly advancing fields in modern medicine.
Steven Kahn, M.D., from the University of Washington, gave the conference’s Ronald Goldberg Memorial Lecture, named after the late Miller School endocrinologist. Dr. Kahn addressed type 2 diabetes prevention and even reversal, a theme Dr. Goldberg pursued during his career.
“Ron Goldberg made important contributions that impact clinical care,” Dr. Kahn said. “He was a true mensch, and the world would be a better place if it were filled with more people like Ron. Ron’s legacy will live beyond the lives of those of us fortunate enough to know him.”
Dr. Kahn emphasized that the health of insulin-producing beta cells determines progression from normal glucose levels to prediabetes and diabetes. Lifestyle changes and medications like metformin and newer therapeutics can delay this progression, but their benefits diminish when treatment stops. Long-term protection, he said, requires maintaining weight loss and improving insulin sensitivity.
Personal Approach to Obesity
The final module focused on obesity, with W. Timothy Garvey, M.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, reframing it as a chronic medical condition driven by physiology rather than personal willpower. He described obesity’s role in fueling complications such as diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. Dr. Garvey also stressed that treatment must be personalized, combining lifestyle changes, medication or surgery, depending on the patient’s needs. New medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, are producing unprecedented weight-loss outcomes, though access remains an ongoing challenge.
Leigh Perreault, M.D., from the University of Colorado, expanded on obesity’s close link with type 2 diabetes, calling the conditions “twin pandemics.” She emphasized that addressing obesity is one of the most effective strategies for preventing or reversing diabetes. The best results, she said, come from tailored care plans that match treatments to each patient’s health goals and physiology.
“What we heard during this session represents the future of medicine emphasized by early detection, smarter therapies and technology that truly empowers patients,” Dr. Galindo said. “Our mission is to turn these breakthroughs into real-world solutions that change lives.”
Dr. Galindo also made special mention of Midalys Suarez and Hari Suarez from the division for their organizational support, as well the three companies, Insulet, Dexcom and Abbott, that provided educational grants for the meeting.
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Tags: diabetes, Division of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism, Dr. Rodolfo Galindo, endocrinology, obesity, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, weight loss