Miller School of Medicine Diabetes Day: Breakthroughs in Prevention, Treatment, and Technology

Posted by: Joey Garcia November 17, 2025 | 10 minutes read | share summary The Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine brought together local and national experts for the annual UM Diabetes Day conference. Dr. Jay Schuyler's presentation outlined major advances in understanding the autoimmune origins of type 1 diabetes. Dr. Rodolfo Galindo gave insight into how continuous glucose monitoring and continuous ketone monitoring have changed the care of patients with diabetes. of Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine brought together local and national experts for the second annual UM Diabetes Day Conference. The event, the Miami Heart-Reno Metabolic Conference, drew more than 200 attendees to UM's Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building and provided a comprehensive view of the advances shaping the future of medicine. type 1 and type 2 diabetes care, obesity treatment and emerging technologies. "This event brings together the brightest minds to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time." Dr. Ernesto Bernal Mizrachi, Professor, department chair, conference co-director. “Science is accelerating faster than ever, and our responsibility is to bring these discoveries to the patients who need them most.” Type 1 diabetes: Early detection and smarter treatment The program started with Dr. Jay Schuyler, Professor in the Miller School's Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, and Associate Director of Clinical Research and Academic Programs. Diabetes Research Institute (DRI). His presentation outlined major advances in understanding the autoimmune origins of type 1 diabetes. He emphasized the role of genetic risk markers, autoantibodies and early screening to identify disease years before symptoms appear. Although most prevention trials have shown limited results, Dr. Schuyler highlighted teplizumab as a breakthrough drug that can delay the onset of type 1 diabetes in high-risk people. Dr. Jay Schuyler "While we have made remarkable progress in understanding the genetic and immunological roots of type 1 diabetes, translating these insights into effective prevention remains our greatest challenge," said Dr. Schuyler. “The future lies in early detection and targeted intervention, giving hope to both families and clinicians.” Building on that foundation, Haris Khan-Akhtak, M.D., of the University of Colorado, reviewed new insulin therapies that reshape daily management. Once-weekly basal insulins, such as icodec or efsitora, provide similar blood sugar control with fewer injections, but have a slightly higher risk of hypoglycemia. Dr. Halst Kohn Ataak Dr. Akhtar also highlighted super-fast-acting inhaled insulin that improves postprandial blood sugar control, reflecting the move toward more personalized and technology-driven diabetes care. Transforming diabetes care through technology The role of diabetes technology has gained attention. Dr. Rodolfo Galindo, Associate Professor in the Miller School's Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, and founder and co-director of the conference, provided further insight into how to do that. continuous blood glucose monitor (CGM) and continuous ketone monitoring (CKM) are advancing patient care. Dr. Rodolfo Galindo “CGM and CKM are not just tools; they are game changers,” Dr. Galindo said. “This allows us to intervene earlier, educate patients more effectively, and ultimately improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.” Eda Cengiz, MD, from the University of California, San Francisco, expanded on this topic as she introduced a modern automated insulin delivery system that integrates CGM and intelligent pumps to adjust insulin throughout the day. Dr. Galindo introduces Dr. Eda Cengiz. These systems reduce day-to-day administrative burdens, limit dangerous elevations, and provide users with additional flexibility. However, Dr. Cengiz emphasized that technology works best when supported by strong collaboration between patients and healthcare providers. Type 2 diabetes: biology, prevention, and the power of GLP-1 therapy The afternoon session began with Daniel Drucker, MD, of the University of Toronto, who helped develop GLP-1-based drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, and moved on to the topic of type 2 diabetes. He explained that these drugs do more than just lower blood sugar levels. They reduce appetite, improve heart and kidney health, reduce inflammation, and have shown early promise in treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. With the advent of powerful combination therapies and oral agents, GLP-1 drugs are one of the most rapidly evolving areas in modern medicine. Dr. Stephen Kahn of the University of Washington delivered the conference's Ronald Goldberg Memorial Lecture, named after the late Miller School endocrinologist. Dr. Kahn even addressed type 2 diabetes prevention and reversal, a topic that Dr. Goldberg pursued during his career. Dr. Stephen Kahn delivered the Ronald Goldberg Memorial Lecture. "Ron Goldberg made important contributions that influenced clinical care," Dr. Kahn said. "He was a true mensch. The world would be a better place if there were more people like Ron. Ron's legacy will live on beyond the lives of those of us who were lucky enough to know him." Dr. Khan emphasized that the health of insulin-producing beta cells determines the progression from normal blood sugar levels to prediabetes and diabetes. Lifestyle changes, medications such as metformin, and new treatments can slow this progression, but their effectiveness decreases when treatment is stopped. He said long-term prevention requires maintaining weight loss and improving insulin sensitivity. A personal approach to obesity The final module focused on obesity, with Dr. W. Timothy Garvey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham reframing obesity as a chronic medical condition driven by physiology rather than individual willpower. He discussed the role of obesity in promoting complications such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. Dr. Garvey also emphasized the need to individualize treatment, combining lifestyle changes, medications and surgery, depending on the patient's needs. New drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are providing unprecedented weight loss benefits, but access remains a challenge. Lee Perrault, MD, of the University of Colorado, expanded on the close link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, calling the condition the "twin pandemic." She emphasized that addressing obesity is one of the most effective strategies to prevent or reverse diabetes. She says the best results come from a tailored care plan that tailors treatment to each patient's health goals and physiology. “What we heard in this session represents a future of medicine punctuated by earlier detection, smarter treatments, and technology that truly empowers patients,” said Dr. Galindo. “Our mission is to turn these breakthroughs into real-world solutions that change lives.” Dr. Galindo also gave special mention to the department's Midalis Suarez and Hari Suarez for their organizational support, and to the three companies that provided educational grants to the conference: Insulet, Dexcom, and Abbott. Let's participate Support for endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism departments tag: diabetes, Endocrine Division Diabetes/Metabolism Division, Dr. Rodolfo Galindo, endocrinology, obesity, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, weight loss Sources 1/ https://Google.com/ 2/ https://news.med.miami.edu/miller-school-of-medicine-diabetes-day-breakthroughs-in-prevention-treatment-and-technology/ The mention sources can contact us to remove/changing this article