At the 2024 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, Brittany Bruggeman, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and type 1 diabetes physician scientist, University of Florida, provided key updates on the evolving care for type 1 diabetes. Her talk, titled "What’s New in Type 1 Diabetes Care," highlighted significant advancements in both technology and treatments that general pediatricians should be aware of.

"There’s a lot that is new in type 1 diabetes care," Bruggeman emphasized. Given the rapid pace of these developments, she noted that general pediatricians, who "have to know a little bit about everything," would benefit from updates on the latest advances in managing the condition.

One of the major points Bruggeman discussed was the importance of early detection in pre-type 1 diabetes. "We can actually tell that someone is going to develop type 1 diabetes months to years before they actually get type 1 diabetes, and we do that through something called islet autoantibodies," she said. These markers allow for early identification of individuals at risk, particularly those with relatives who have type 1 diabetes.

"There is a new treatment called teplizumab that is an immune therapy that we can actually give in stage 2 type 1 diabetes to help delay the onset of clinical disease," she explained. This innovation provides a new avenue of care, offering hope for delaying the disease’s progression.

Related: Teplizumab effectiveness in adolescents with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes

"We’re seeing people who already have the disease," she noted. General pediatricians play a crucial role in screening for risk factors and initiating conversations about islet autoantibody testing. "That’s where the general pediatrician really comes in," she emphasized, as they can identify individuals with a family history of type 1 diabetes and refer them for further testing.

In summary, Bruggeman’s session highlighted the growing importance of early detection and the use of new treatments, like teplizumab, in delaying the progression of type 1 diabetes. These updates underscore the vital role of pediatricians in identifying at-risk individuals and providing them with timely interventions.