Five things we’ve learnt at EASD 2024

This year’s event in Madrid was packed with inspiring presentations, expert discussions, and cutting-edge research. We were on the ground, and here are the top five things we learnt at this year’s conference. 

1 – Lived experience is at the heart of EASD 

This year at EASD, the spotlight on lived experience has been more prominent than ever. Thanks to the #dedoc° community, the Lived Experience Advisory Council is now a key part of the conference, ensuring that people who actually live with diabetes are included in every aspect of type 1 research and support services. 

Diabetologia, an EASD publication, even featured lived experience on its front cover, highlighting its importance. The #dedoc° symposium was a standout moment, showcasing how far we’ve come in valuing real-world insights. By prioritising the experiences of people with diabetes, the conference is making sure research stays relevant and impactful. 

2 – Could you still be making some insulin? 

We know that when you’re first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you can still make some insulin – often known as the honeymoon period.

Now researchers are finding that this ability might last longer than we thought. Dr Tiinamaija Tuomi from the University of Helsinki has found that beta cells in people who have had type 1 for five years can still make c-peptide (a measure of insulin production) in response to glucose. These people have lower HbA1c levels and a reduced risk of diabetes complications. They may also be able to benefit from emerging treatments to preserve insulin production, like teplizumab.  

Dr Marc Gregory Yu from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston has even shown that some people who have lived with type 1 for over 50 years can still make c-peptide and proinsulin in response to glucose. We’re not sure yet what the clinical implications of this discovery might be, but these people are part of a group called The Medalist Programme, which will continue to explore this area of research. 

3 – Breakthrough T1D in the spotlight 

There was a buzz at the conference about our rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D. Our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Sanjoy Dutta, was interviewed on EASD TV, the conference’s TV channel, to give an insight into the rebrand. Sanjoy explained our research priorities remain focused on finding ways to prevent, treat and cure type 1 diabetes. He was joined by Professor Sarah Richardson who celebrated how our partnerships, like the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge, help drive breakthroughs for people living with type 1 diabetes. 

Breakthrough T1D CEO Dr Aaron Kowalski co-hosted a session at the conference exploring diabetes devices, demonstrating our leadership in the field. In the session, our Chief Medical Officer, Professor Thomas Danne, championed hybrid closed loop (HCL) technology as a tool to help people with type 1 improve their HbA1c levels and reduce diabetes complications. 

4 – Fear of hypos is a barrier to exercise 

Research carried out at the University of Dundee has revealed that fear of hypoglycaemia is a major barrier to activity among adults with type 1, despite advances in glucose monitoring and insulin therapy

The study highlights that improved education and discussions about safe exercise management in clinical settings could help address these fears. Participants who understood how to manage insulin and carbohydrate intake before and after exercise were less fearful of hypoglycaemia, suggesting that better conversations in clinic could help people feel more confident exercising. 

Find out more about type 1 and exercise. 

5 – Promising results from Vertex 

New results from Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ VX-880 clinical trial show exciting progress in treating type 1 diabetes. The therapy, which combines lab-grown insulin-producing islet cells with immune-suppressing drugs, has led to 11 participants needing to take less insulin or none at all, with four of the earliest treated individuals remaining insulin-independent over a year later.  

The trial currently includes 17 people at different stages of receiving the therapy and the researchers will now recruit 20 additional participants, making a total of 37. These promising results underscore the potential of VX-880 as a significant step toward a possible cure for T1D.