Diabetes Insights - Breakthroughs and Innovators

In this episode, Dr. Tamara Hannon (Indiana University Health) and Prof. Martin Wabitsch (Universtätsklinikum Ulm) unpack the findings of the SURPASS-PEDS trial - the first study to evaluate the dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in adolescents with type 2 diabetes. With youth-onset type 2 diabetes rising sharply across the US and Europe, and with young people experiencing faster beta-cell decline, more severe obesity, and greater socioeconomic burdens, the need for effective therapies has never been greater. They discuss why adolescent disease differs fundamentally from adult type 2 diabetes, why weight-loss expectations cannot be compared across age groups, and how tirzepatide not only reduces HbA1c but also halts the extreme weight-gain velocity commonly seen in this population. They also reflect on what early intervention could mean for long-term metabolic health, how guidelines may evolve, and how better treatment options could transform quality of life for young people living with type 2 diabetes. This conversation highlights why youth-onset type 2 diabetes is fundamentally different from adult disease, why weight loss behaves differently in children, and how early intervention could change the life course for young people at high risk of long-term complications.

In this episode, EASD presents its inaugural clinical guideline on diabetes distress. Drawing on two years of multidisciplinary work, the guideline was developed by clinicians, methodologists, psychologists and people with lived experience. Prof. Jane Speight, Prof. Richard Holt and patient-advocate Michelle Law describe what diabetes distress is (the emotional burden tied to daily self-management) and why routine assessment and supportive care must become part of standard practice. The guideline sets out eight good practice statements to help clinicians normalise conversations about emotional wellbeing, plus graded recommendations for managing distress in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Psychological interventions are endorsed where evidence supports them, and clinic-level actions that clinicians can deliver without referral are highlighted. The panel also discusses evidence gaps, the need for practical tools and training, and how people living with diabetes can drive implementation by asking for these conversations in clinic. Join EASD TV to hear how this guideline aims to transform diabetes care by putting emotional wellbeing alongside clinical outcomes.

In this episode, leading experts Anette Ziegler (Helmholtz Munich), Chantal Mathieu (KU Leuven & EASD President), and Anastasia Albanese-O’Neill (Breakthrough T1D) join EASD TV to discuss the emerging global consensus on screening for early-stage type 1 diabetes. They explore why population-wide screening is now considered both feasible and essential, how early detection can prevent DKA and enable access to disease-modifying therapies, and what the new guidance means for clinicians, health systems, and policymakers. From optimal screening ages and two-step testing strategies to implementation challenges, cost-effectiveness, and the promise of prevention, this conversation outlines one of the most significant shifts in type 1 diabetes care in decades.

Last week we heard the diabetologist's perspective on cardiovascular outcomes. In this weeks episode, EASD TV continues its deep dive into major clinical trials with the cardiologist’s perspective. Cardiologist Dr. Matthew Cavender (University of North Carolina) joins Vivienne Parry to unpack the SOUL trial, a major cardiovascular outcomes study evaluating oral semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes. The trial followed more than 8,000 high-risk participants and demonstrated a 14% reduction in major cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke. Dr Cavender explains why having an effective oral GLP-1 receptor agonist is an important development for both diabetes and cardiovascular care, and what the findings mean for clinical practice, guideline implementation, and patient access. From cross-disciplinary teamwork to the future of evidence-based prescribing, this episode offers a clear look at how the SOUL trial is shaping modern treatment strategies.

At the EASD 2024 Annual Meeting, the SOUL trial attracted significant attention as the first study to show cardiovascular risk reduction using an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist. In this episode, Dr Rodica Busui (Oregon Health & Science University-OHSU, Oregon, USA) explains the trial’s major outcomes, including a 14% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events -matching results previously observed with injectable GLP-1 formulations. The discussion highlights the potential impact of an oral agent on clinical practice, including improved accessibility, suitability for older adults, and earlier use in the treatment pathway. Dr Busui also reviews new data on heart failure phenotypes, particularly HFpEF, and the growing need to address cardiometabolic multimorbidity in people with type 2 diabetes. Another key topic is the high proportion of participants using SGLT2 inhibitors in the trial. The reassuring safety data regarding combined therapy offers important guidance for clinicians prescribing contemporary cardiometabolic treatments. This episode provides a clear and timely overview of how oral GLP-1 therapies may influence the future of cardiovascular and diabetes care.