Reflections from the Australasian Diabetes Congress 2025

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Australasian Diabetes Congress (ADC) on the Gold Coast - a three-day event bringing together CDEs, GPs, endocrinologists, allied health professionals, and researchers with a shared passion for diabetes care. It’s always a whirlwind of learning, networking, and seeing the latest in diabetes research and technology.

In exciting news, my Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre colleague Beth McNally (Director Educational Programs) and myself were invited to co-present a masterclass session during this Congress. Our topic was “Exploring Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction in T1D: Practical Strategies for Diabetes Educators”, a session focused on giving healthcare professionals the confidence and know-how to safely support people with T1D who choose a lower-carb approach.

We made it interactive, mixing teaching with role plays (Beth as the patient, me as the diabetes educator), live polls, and audience questions. The room was buzzing! Every one of the 180+ seats was full, with people standing at the back, nodding, snapping photos, and asking questions long after we finished.

Hot topics from ADC 2025

Tech-wise, it was a “quiet year”. As a self-confessed diabetes tech nerd, the exhibitors' hall is my heaven. Every med-tech company in one place, hyping their latest announcements… and yet… nothing that we have not already seen this year.. But, after the whirlwind of tech launches in the last 12 months, maybe we’re all just catching our breath!

Even though there were no major new tech launches, there’s still a lot happening in the T1D space. Screening programs are helping to identify people predisposed to developing type 1, reducing the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis, and making the transition to insulin therapy smoother. Delaying the onset of type 1 with immune therapy is also a focus, and the growing use of artificial intelligence and online education in diabetes care came through as important priorities for future research.

Disaster preparedness was an eye-opening topic! This session offered practical insights for real-world challenges, like what happens when people need to evacuate their homes, and local pharmacies have lost access to essential medicines due to flooding. It was fascinating to see how our east coast colleagues managed the recent floods and earthquakes, and it really highlighted the importance of having a personal plan in place, even here in Perth where we’ve been lucky so far. The NDSS disaster management plan is a great starting point. Worth a look and a print-out “just in case”.

Pregnancy care sessions were fascinating. The UK is leaps ahead here, offering insulin pumps to all pregnant women with T1D. That’s a game-changer we can only hope to catch up with!

On a personal note, the food was a surprise this year – no lolly bags or fairy floss in sight (not kidding!). Instead, we had delicious low-carb, protein-rich choices on offer, fresh salads, and barista-made coffee on tap (a huge thanks to the med-tech companies keeping everyone fuelled!)

All in all, ADC 2025 was a brilliant mix of practical education, research insights, and community energy. It reminded me why I love being part of this field, and why supporting people with T1D, whether through education, technology, or simply listening, matters so much.

If you’d like to know more about therapeutic carbohydrate reduction in T1D or more about the guide that Beth and I co-authored, please reach out to the Centre at hello@type1familycentre.org.au You can download the guide on this page: Therapeutic Carbohydrate Reduction in Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Dietitians and Nutritionists, 2024.

What these conferences remind me is that it’s not just the research and tech advances that matter; it’s the practical, real-world strategies that make living with type 1 diabetes a little easier every day.