American Diabetes Association® Convened Leaders from the Intersection of the Diabetes and Technology Ecosystems at its First-Ever Technology Summit

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier this week, the American Diabetes Association (Association) convened leaders from the diabetes, design and health technology ecosystems—including more than 150 clinicians, entrepreneurs, payers, regulators, investors and people with diabetes—for the ADA Technology Summit (Summit) in Mountain View, Calif. The Summit focused on discussing the needs of people with diabetes, caregivers, health care providers, and those at risk of developing the disease, and the next steps for advancing technology solutions in diabetes care and management.

Diabetes is an urgent public health crisis, affecting one in 11 Americans. While advances in science, medicine and technology have made it possible for people with diabetes to enjoy an improved quality of life, the Association hosted the Summit to emphasize the diverse needs of this population and to help expedite the development of quality, well-designed solutions that can improve diabetes care and outcomes.

The day-long program began with first-person accounts of the burden that people with diabetes face every day—from the ever-present blood glucose monitoring to the devices, tools and supplies they must always carry. Entrepreneurs from leading technology organizations also shared their plans for new business models and services that could equalize care and place data generated by monitoring devices and apps in real-time into the hands of patients, loved ones and health care providers. The Summit also included a two-hour, interactive design session led by IDEO. Each roundtable discussion involved at least one person with diabetes and a clinician to ensure that these perspectives were always top-of-mind. Lastly, investors in technology and health care weighed in on promising areas of innovation and shared the criteria startups must meet to commercialize their ideas.

"We are privileged to serve individuals living with diabetes and are eager to collaborate with the technology community to help us meet our goal of improving the lives of those affected by the disease," said Jane Chiang, MD, executive vice president, medical innovation for the American Diabetes Association. "By convening this influential group of like-minded innovators, our goal is to advance technology solutions that go beyond this event and create true impact for individuals living with diabetes."

From the event's discussion and interaction, several common themes emerged:

• The omnipresent, unceasing challenge of living with diabetes. Regardless of the day or activity, the challenges of diabetes are 24/7/365. Devices and tools have made managing the condition easier, yet the disruptiveness of diabetes still represents a huge burden.
• Integrating technology and infrastructure. Disparate devices are beginning to talk with one another, however, interoperability and data-sharing are still more of an aspiration than a reality. New approaches that empower people with diabetes, support monitoring and allow seamless care across treatment settings and home environments could transform diabetes management.
• Promoting cross-ecosystem collaboration. Through open dialogue and collaboration by stakeholders across every aspect of these ecosystems, meaningful transformation is possible. Building on the insights shared at the Summit requires continued dialogue and collaboration.

For more than 76 years, the American Diabetes Association has been committed to advancing prevention and cures, and to improving the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association is devoted to pursuing technological advancements that can help with its mission of improving the lives of individuals affected by diabetes.

For more information about the discussions held at the ADA Technology Summit, please visit adainnovation.org. 

About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes^® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

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SOURCE American Diabetes Association

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http://www.diabetes.org