Join Dana Moreau and Davida Kruger, MSN, APN-BC, BC-ADM, co-chair of the Diabetes Technology Conference Planning Committee, as they dive into what makes DTC25 the must-attend event for diabetes professionals. Discover how the latest innovations in diabetes technology will be translated into real-world strategies you can apply in practice and hear how the conference fosters meaningful networking and collaboration among peers. Register for the Diabetes Technology Conference here: https://diabetestechconference.org/
Join Dana Moreau and Davida Kruger, MSN, APN-BC, BC-ADM, co-chair of the Diabetes Technology Conference Planning Committee, as they dive into what makes DTC25 the must-attend event for diabetes professionals. Discover how the latest innovations in diabetes technology will be translated into real-world strategies you can apply in practice and hear how the conference fosters meaningful networking and collaboration among peers.
Register for the Diabetes Technology Conference here: https://diabetestechconference.org/
Dana Moreau
Hello and welcome to ADCES's podcast, The Huddle, Conversations with the Diabetes Care and Education Team. In each episode, we speak with guests from across the diabetes care space to bring you perspectives, issues, and updates that elevate your role, inform your practice, and ignite your passion. I'm your host, Moreau. I oversee DanaTech, ADCES's website dedicated to keeping healthcare professionals up to speed on the benefits and uses of diabetes devices and tech.
Today I'm joined by one of the chairs of the planning committee for this year, Davida Kruger. She's here to talk about the 2025 ADCS Diabetes Tech Conference happening this upcoming December 12th through the 13th in Chicago. Davida, welcome to the Huddle.
Davida Kruger
Thank you so much, Dana, for having me.
Dana
Great to have you. Before we talk about the conference itself, can you tell us a little bit about you and really what excites you most about working in diabetes tech right now?
Davida
So I've actually been in the world of diabetes for, this is my 44th year. So I find everything pretty exciting or I probably would have retired. But technology, technology and technology is where it's at. Everything we do for people with diabetes revolves around technology. And one piece fits generally together with the other piece. And it really helps the patient have a much better outcome and every time I think I know what I know and I consider myself one of the country's experts in technology, something new comes along and we all have to gather around and learn how to use that piece of technology to improve the outcome for people with diabetes.
Dana
And that's great. And we actually all consider you one of the experts, so we are so happy to have you as the chair this year. That is a really great starting point and it leads perfectly into this bigger picture about the conference. Davida, from your perspective, what are the most pressing issues in diabetes technology today and how does this conference go about addressing them?
Davida
I think the most pressing issues in diabetes technology today is the vast number of choices we have to offer people with diabetes. That is a good thing. However, as a clinician, I have to know every pump on the market, every sensor on the market, every glucose meter on the market, and I need to understand the algorithms. I need to understand the supplies that go with them. I need to understand what sensor goes with what pump and whether I get it from DME or if I get it from pharmacy. All of these things make our ability to practice more complicated. Now the outcome is still wonderful because we get to use all these products and we get to help people with diabetes find something that matches their lifestyle, but it does increase the complexity of what we're trying to do. This conference will help you as a clinician, as a diabetes educator, as a nurse practitioner, as a physician, whoever joins us, it helps you understand each of these devices, their algorithms, how they fit into your practice, how they meet the needs of the person sitting in front of you in your practice. And I think that is one of the reasons this conference will stand out because of what we're going to be able to offer those that join us in terms of that learning curve and what they're to be able to take home. So I'm pretty excited about that.
So while we focus everything as a foundation on the research that's been done, we make this absolutely positively hands on. How do you go back to your clinic practice and put this into practice? So you're gonna learn the specifics of the algorithm of a specific pump and how does that work for that patient? But also we have case studies.
We have a session on Ask the Experts about those questions you haven't had anybody to ask. You know, the crazy questions that you sit around at your own desk and think, has anybody thought about that before? We have a whole session just on Ask the Experts. We have case studies on each of the algorithms. So I think the thing that makes this difference is the hands-on, how to use it, how to use the algorithms, how to read the reports, which can make you all crazy because they're all a little bit different because the algorithms are all a little bit different. So we'll go through that with you.
Dana
And that's 100 % true. And we find the algorithm's changing. Not it used to be maybe year over year, but now it seems month over month. Always something new to be on the lookout for. So as someone who's been to most of these diabetes technology conferences, it really is a rich learning environment. And again, so many people do want that hands-on exposure that you've been talking about. When you're thinking about the hands-on that we have. Can you talk a little bit more about what those sessions look like?
Davida
Oh yeah, Cari Berget is my co-chair and she lives and breathes technology and is amazing. And she set up a session, sort of like speed dating for technology. And it's going to be an amazing session. We hope everybody will attend that session where someone will get up and they present for, I don't know, five to seven minutes on a particular insulin pump, including a little bit of a case study.
And then we'll do case studies at the table and there'll be someone from the planning committee or others at the table with the group to work through what they just learned for the stage. And then the next person will come up and we'll do that with all of the pumps on the market right now. So you get this great flash of five to seven, 10 minutes of information, speed, speed, speed, speed. And then you do case studies as a group at the table with another person who's an expert in diabetes. We're really excited. So that's one of our new sessions that we think whether you've been in diabetes 44 years or you're new to diabetes and learning technology, we really think that's something everybody's going to enjoy. And the camaraderie of the work at the table. I really want people to walk away with relationship building. So when you walk out of the room, you're not done. When you go home after the session, you're not done because you've met buddies and friends, colleagues that you can tap five months, six months from now and say, remember I was at that session with you, we sat at that table. I have a question, can you help me? So between now and the conference next year, you'll build friends and colleagues that you can learn and grow with over the year.
Dana
That sounds like a lot of fun. And so it sounds like we've got the science covered, the practical application, even hands-on and, dare I say, the social component as well. But there's something else that keeps people coming back year after year. What would you say is the biggest intangible value of attending? Not just for the first time, but like if you're coming back for year two, year three. What new are people getting out of this? Why do they keep coming back?
Davida
Every time I think I know what I know, something new comes to the market. I mean, if you think about the last 12 months, we've had new pumps, we've had new sensors, we've had all kinds of new things, and we're looking at maybe tighter control, we're also looking at continuous key tone monitoring. We will definitely touch on all of this.
But I don't want any of us to minimize the social component of building colleagues and relationships now and as we move forward. But it doesn't matter how long you've been in diabetes, I promise you, you will walk away with new information. And guess what? If you don't, you're gonna share what you know and it's gonna confirm what you already know. And that to me sometimes, I think, my gosh, I thought I knew that. Let me think, let me ask. And so, confirming what those that have been in practice for a while and having them share with newbies, I think is another benefit. But we're going to cover everything. Cari Briget is going to do an overview to start us off. That's really going to be incredible. Anders Carlson is going to be there. Eden Miller is going to be there. All kinds of educators to really set the stage for learning from the experts and everyone that's gonna leave the room is gonna be an expert as well when you leave this conference.
Dana
That's great. You mentioned some fabulous names there. We love Cari. She is a huge contributor to Danatech. And for those who don't know Cari, she works for Barbara Davis and the Panther Project. So again, happy to see her involvement as well. So one thing we didn't touch on is continuing education credits. So we do provide those. How many credits can you expect to get from participating in this year's Diabetes Technology Conference?
Davida
We're in the neighborhood of about 11 for the two days, which is more than any of the years before. Speaking more, but it's still more. And we all need those to keep our license, to keep our certifications, and it's a fun way to do it. So I'm all about fun. I don't do anything that's not fun. And so not only, I just want to make sure, not only do we learn, do we grow, do we meet people, do we leave with better knowledge, but we want to do it so it's enjoyable and fun and then you get to meet someone new.
Dana
Not to sound biased, but we really do think this is probably one of the better technology events out there. Not only, as you've mentioned, do we make it fun, but it's a great learning experience. It's very hands-on. And the setting is a bit more intimate than you might get elsewhere. So just as our final, like, wrap-up, Davida, is there anything, you know, that you think stands out or any last information that you would like people to take away from this conversation?
Davida
Yeah, I think in 2025, the best thing we can offer people with diabetes is the quality of technology that we have. And it beholds all of us to understand, best to understand how to use that technology. And because we want individuals with diabetes to have choices, we have to understand all the devices on the market. And so what I think you're gonna get from this conference is an understanding of all the technology that's out there, how to use it in your practice, and that even when you leave the conference, there's ways for you to follow up with people to help you incorporate that into your practice. And I think that's what's so different about this conference is we take you from A to Z and we make sure that you're comfortable in what you're doing so that you can offer this technology in your practice. And I really want people to go home and be able to offer it to people with diabetes and support them to have better outcomes.
Dana
That's terrific. So, Davida, obviously this is being hosted by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, but many people don't realize that you don't necessarily have to be a DCES to attend. What is the right audience? I mean, who should consider attending this event?
Davida
That's an amazing question, Dana, because I really think we do our best job to take people where they are, meaning that if they're brand new to diabetes or in a primary care practice where they see less diabetes than someone like I do in an endocrinology practice, we have something for everybody and it gives them a good footholding to bring that stuff back to their practice as well as to grow.
So I would love to see everybody be a member of ADCES, but for those that aren't, you can still learn, grow, and bring things back to your practice, and maybe next year they'll become members when they come back.
Dana
Well, I definitely think they should. Well, Davida, thank you so much. This was a really dynamic look into what's in store for DTC25. I know a lot of effort goes into the planning. So thank you so much to you and to Cari and the entire team that's behind this. I really can't wait to see you in Chicago.
Davida
Absolutely, and I really do encourage people to join us because it's going to be a great conference this year with a lot of learning and a lot of great people to meet.
Dana
That's great. So if you're interested in registering for the Diabetes Technology Conference, registration is open now. Visit diabetestechconference.org to register or learn more. ADCES members receive a discounted rate. You can become a member at the time you register or pay the full price. Thank you for listening to this episode of The Huddle. We hope you'll join us at the ADCES Diabetes Technology Conference. December is a great time to visit Chicago.
As someone who lives in Chicago, I can't emphasize this enough. We've got a lot of holiday activities happening. The weather is actually much better than you think it is. So come join us so we can show off our gorgeous city. To learn more and register, visit diabetestechconference.org. The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate nor applicable for your individual circumstances. This podcast does not provide medical or professional advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions.