A Diabetes Breakthrough: New Drug to Delay the Onset of Clinical Disease

Welcome back to another exciting season of Charting Pediatrics! For our long-time listeners, we are thrilled to have you back, and for anyone new to our audience, we couldn’t be more excited that you’ve joined us. In this first episode of Season 7, we dive into the world of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Did you know that one in 300 individuals under the age of 20 is affected by this condition? Our guest on today’s episode, Kimber Simmons, MD, isn’t just an expert in her field; she was a part of that statistic after getting diagnosed at just 8 –years old. Now, as an associate professor of pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology, as well as a pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, she’s shedding light on some of the latest research. 

Dr. Simmons and other experts explain alternative approaches that modify the natural course of T1D, rather than solely treating hyperglycemia, could dramatically improve both the quality of life and health outcomes for patients. In this episode, we review strategies for early diagnosis of T1D that predict, as well as prevent or delay, the onset of clinical T1D during preclinical stages of the disease. We also discuss an exciting new medication with the promise of delaying the onset of clinical disease in T1D. “It is going to shift how we manage Type 1 diabetes in the future,” Dr. Simmons says.  

Some highlights from today’s episode include: 

• How the predictability of T1D has changed over the years 

• Expansion of screening programs worldwide 

• New breakthrough medication approved in the U.S. to delay the onset of clinical T1D 

• Children’s Colorado program to help providers identify the disease and follow up 

For more information on Children’s Hospital Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org