Hi there 👋,

Hope August has been good to you! I attended ADCES25 earlier this month, and I'm excited to share what I learned with you.

THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS 📊

I attended ADCES25, the only conference in the United States for diabetes care and education specialists. Being a diabetes dietitian for 15 years, it was so exciting to see how things have evolved in our field. I also had the opportunity to present on AI in diabetes care.

Here's what struck me most about how far we've come:

The Evolution I've Witnessed Over 15 Years:

• More oral medication options than when I first started practicing
• Insulin that fits your life: Extra-fast-acting insulin you can inject right before eating (no more 15-minute wait!), inhaled insulin (yes, needle-free options!), and extra-long acting insulin providing stability beyond 24 hours
• Technology advances: CGMs have become so much easier to apply with more options and higher accuracy. While accessibility and affordability is still an issue, it has improved a lot over the past few years—out-of-pocket prices for those who aren't covered by insurance have dropped by about 50%

What Was Exciting at This Year's Conference: The sessions on addressing biases and providing culturally-tailored care were particularly encouraging to me, as I've been a strong advocate for this approach over the past decade.

Beyond Blood Sugar: There's growing understanding that diabetes management extends to whole cardiometabolic health—caring for your heart, kidney, liver, and more. This approach helps us manage diabetes and its complications more effectively by addressing whole body health.

PRACTICAL CORNER 💡

The cultural competency discussions at the conference reminded me of two blog posts I wrote that address these exact challenges:

For navigating cultural foods: Asian Cultural Food & Diabetes Management - This covers how to enjoy traditional dishes while managing blood sugar effectively.

For family gatherings: Managing Diabetes at Asian Social Gatherings - Practical strategies for late summer celebrations and family events.

It was so validating to see the diabetes education field finally catching up to what many of us have known all along—that effective diabetes care must honor who you are, including your cultural background and family traditions.

DIABETES INSIGHT 🔍

New Research Spotlight: Recent research published by the American Dental Association further confirms the established two-way relationship between diabetes and oral/dental diseases.

What This Means for You:

• People with diabetes have higher risk for gum disease and other oral health issues
• Conversely, poor oral health can make blood sugar management more challenging
• Action step: Ensure you're having regular dental checkups (every 6 months) and inform your dentist about your diabetes management

YOU ASK, I ANSWER 🙋🏻‍♀️

Q: "I think my CGM readings aren't accurate - they don't match what I get from my finger stick readings. Should I be concerned?"

A: This is one of the most common questions I get from my patients, and it's completely understandable! Here's what you need to know:

CGMs and blood glucose meters measure blood sugar from different places - CGMs read from your interstitial fluid (the fluid around your cells), while finger sticks measure blood sugar directly. This means:

1. There's naturally a 10-15 minute lag between blood glucose changes and what shows up on your CGM
2. Both devices have acceptable margins of error - blood glucose meters must be within 15-20% of lab values, while modern CGMs typically achieve accuracy within 8-10%
3. Timing matters - if your blood sugar is changing rapidly (like after meals), you'll see bigger differences

When to doubt your CGM reading: If readings are significantly off when measured when blood sugar is relatively stable or if the CGM readings don't match how you're feeling.

Check out one of my blogs on CGM to learn more.

ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAY ✅

This Month's Health Reminder: Schedule your dental checkup if you haven't had one in the past 6 months.

Why it matters: The diabetes-oral health connection is real, and preventive care supports your overall diabetes management. Managing diabetes is about whole body health—your cardiometabolic health includes your heart, kidneys, liver, and yes, your oral health too. It's not just about the numbers.

Next step: Call your dentist this week to schedule your checkup, and mention that you're managing diabetes so they can provide the most appropriate care.

✉️ Find this newsletter helpful? Forward it to a friend who might benefit too!

📚 New to our newsletter?Í Catch up on previous issues and explore our archive here.

👋 About Karen

I'm Karen Lau, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience helping Asian Americans manage diabetes while honoring their cultural traditions. My background in diabetes care at a major medical institution has given me deep insight into creating culturally-informed approaches to blood sugar management. Want personalized support? Schedule your first session here if you are using insurance. Or book a free strategy call to learn how we can work together.

Note: This content is for general knowledge and educational purposes only, not medical advice. While this guide follows current medical guidelines, always consult your healthcare team for personalized recommendations and advice specific to your situation. This newsletter was authored by me, with my professional expertise, clinical experience, and original ideas forming the foundation of the content. Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, helped organize and expand my thoughts into this comprehensive newsletter while maintaining my voice and professional perspective.​

To your health—body, mind, and heritage,

Karen​
​Diabetes Dietitian & Diabetes Care Specialist (RDN, CDCES)
​
​Let's stay connected:
​diabetesnutritionist.co | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn​