We were so excited to hear from more than 900 individuals at the FDA campus and in the online community, including patients, policymakers, advocates, industry, and several members of the FDA’s leadership. Everyone present truly welcomed patient voices, wanting to better understand the daily challenges and successes in diabetes management at the personal level.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf set the tone for the day, enthusiastically sharing why this meeting was so important to everyone affected by diabetes. His welcome was followed by regulatory, patient, and pharmaceutical perspectives, all coming together under a common goal – to find solutions to improve the lives of people managing diabetes.  

The diaTribe Foundation had the honor of presenting patient testimonials to attendees at the FDA event through a video that highlighted the real-life experiences of diabetes management. We were so proud to bring the faces and voices of these patients to the meeting to amplify their message and create a truly vivid experience for everyone in attendance. A huge thank you to our friends at HCM for helping prepare this video and to all of the patients who so expertly shared their experiences!

We also were oh so excited to present findings from a survey conducted by The diaTribe Foundation and dQ&A. With more than 3,500 patients – including 1,000+ each of patients with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes on insulin, and type 2 diabetes with other treatments - responding to the survey in just a few days after its release, it was clear the amazing weight that these conversations carry in the diabetes community. Most notably, the survey found that the number one most impactful measure on daily life – across both types 1 and 2 diabetes – was time-in-range. A1C is very helpful, but it doesn’t tell the full story of a patient’s daily life with diabetes and treatment success. You can find the full survey presentation here.  

We were so excited to see that our findings were some of the most quoted insights from the meeting. At the end of the day, it was very clear what all patients and advocates in the room wanted: greater alignment on time-in-range, hypoglycemia, and quality of life. Patients want to see an active shift toward more personalized diabetes care that incorporates factors like stress and happiness, which we believe would ultimately improve treatment adherence and success.

It was absolutely incredible to see the power of patients, industry members, and advocates coming together in such a positive way, and we’re optimistic about what it means for diabetes patients in the future. In the coming months, we look forward to connecting with the FDA again to outline concrete solutions for future treatments. Stay tuned!