The 2024 Direction for Diabetes: 3 Takeaways from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Earlier this month, I had the great opportunity to join the 42nd annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, and I wanted to share some of my takeaways from what was an inspiring and forward-looking event. The conference gathered policymakers, nonprofit executives, global investors, and other health care industry leaders. Throughout the conference, I noticed three common threads relevant for the diabetes community and the work of the American Diabetes Association:

Emerging technologies continue to transform diabetes care and management. The advancement of digital health technologies and their application in diabetes management will transform the future of diabetes care. These advancements include the latest in continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs), wearable health devices, and telemedicine services. New devices are shifting towards more personalized, real-time management of diabetes, offering potential for improved patient outcomes. At the ADA, we’ve been working to expand access to CGMs for all people living with diabetes. Whether it be through advocacy efforts or through our work to classify these technologies to ensure insurance coverage, we’re going to continue to identify new ways to implement the latest tools to improve care for those living with diabetes.

Global investment leaders are cautiously optimistic about the health care economy in 2024.Participants at JPM discussed health care investment trends in venture capital, private equity, and other financial sectors, especially those pertaining to diabetes-related initiatives. The prospect of federal interest rate cuts is encouraging for continued investment in breakthrough diabetes technology as well as corporate partnerships. The ADA considers economic outlook when evaluating prospective partners, selecting research projects to support, and identifying key calendar milestones. Understanding financial trends in health care is crucial to the ADA because it helps us sustain programs like Project Power, maintain progress in terms of access to diabetes technology, and retain corporate partnerships that are addressing issues like food insecurity and health equity.

Collaborative efforts and partnership opportunities drive success. The success of partnerships between tech companies, pharmaceutical companies, and health care providers was overwhelmingly evident at the conference. These partnerships could be pivotal in advancing diabetes research, improving patient education, and influencing policy changes. While the ADA has global reach, we know it will take all of us to move our mission forward and eventually find a cure. Thus, creating sustainable, successful partnerships can transform diabetes care on a larger scale, helping those with diabetes access CGMs, eye health screenings, food and nutrition tips, and much more.

As we kick off 2024, I look forward to continuing our work with health care’s changemakers and building a positive future of diabetes care.