June 26, 2025
The 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) concluded this week with landmark updates to the clinical management of obesity and diabetes. Held in Chicago, the conference brought together thousands of healthcare professionals and researchers to present the latest evidence shaping the future of metabolic healthcare.
One of the major themes of this year’s meeting was the increasingly inseparable relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes. New updates to the Standards of Care in Diabetes–2025, released during the event, mark a shift in clinical priorities by integrating obesity treatment directly into diabetes care strategies.
In a bold step forward, the new guidelines include formal definitions and monitoring strategies for diabetes remission. The ADA also launched a prevention initiative targeting people at high risk of type 2 diabetes, with early interventions that combine lifestyle change with pharmacotherapy to delay or avert progression.
Obesity formally recognised as a primary focus of treatment
People living with obesity have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While losing weight can reduce these risks, diet and exercise are often not enough. Effective obesity treatment is now considered central to managing diabetes rather than merely supplementary. With the availability of new therapies capable of achieving weight loss of 15% or more, it is possible to improve — and in some cases even reverse — the course of type 2 diabetes.
For the first time, the ADA’s standards formally acknowledge obesity as a chronic, relapsing condition that requires proactive and long-term management. The updated guidance recommends earlier screening and more assertive treatment — including pharmacotherapy and metabolic surgery — for people living with obesity, particularly those at risk of or living with type 2 diabetes.
Pharmacological advances and person-centred care redefining standards
Emerging evidence presented at the conference supports the use of new-generation medications — particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual agonists such as tripeptide — as cornerstone therapies for people with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity. The updated ADA guidelines now endorse these treatments for a broader population, including those with a BMI ≥27 kg/m².
These medications are transforming what is possible in the management of both diabetes and overweight. Evidence from recent studies has shown that dual-agonist therapies can deliver sustained glycaemic control, significant weight loss and improvements in cardiovascular health.
One study supporting the benefits of dual-agonist therapies like tirzepatide focused on cardiovascular outcomes. A recent observational analysis found that people with type 2 diabetes treated with tirzepatide experienced a 40% relative reduction in major cardiovascular events—including heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality—compared with those on standard GLP1 receptor agonists
The revised standards also promote a more holistic, individualised model of care. In addition to medication, people should receive nutrition counselling, behavioural interventions, sleep optimisation, and consideration of social and economic barriers to health.
Personalised diabetes care using technology and CGM
Technology also featured prominently at the 85th ADA Scientific Sessions, with a strong focus on integrating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) into personalised diabetes care. The ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes 2025 now formally recommend broader integration of CGM—even for people with type 2 diabetes not on insulin—recognising its value in supporting weight management strategies alongside pharmacotherapy and lifestyle change
A dedicated panel, “From Glucose Streams to Phenotype Dreams—The Future of Continuous Monitoring”, examined how artificial intelligence and machine learning are applied to CGM data to subtype type 2 diabetes and tailor treatment approaches.
Experts highlighted CGM’s ability to reveal distinct underlying mechanisms—such as insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction and hepatic glucose output—offering a more precise framework for therapy selection. Supporting this, a retrospective study presented at the meeting showed that people who used CGM alongside GLP1 receptor agonist therapy achieved an additional 0.5% reduction in HbA₁c over 12 months, compared with those who did not use CGM.
Another session explored the evolving clinical use of CGMs, emphasising how metrics like time in range (TIR) and glucose management indicator (GMI) provide more nuanced, actionable insights than HbA₁c alone, helping clinicians prevent complications and refine treatment in real-time.
With over 14,000 delegates and hundreds of scientific sessions, the 85th ADA meeting underscored a significant turning point in how the global medical community approaches obesity and diabetes — not as isolated conditions but as deeply interconnected conditions requiring unified, evidence-based care.
