Hey ๐ Reader!
This has been a big month. I passed my BC-ADM exam, spent a few days at the ADCES conference soaking up whatโs new in the field, and came home with a lot to share. Letโs get into it.
๐ Iโm Now BC-ADM Certified ๐
A quick explainer, since I know not everyone knows what this means. BC-ADM stands for Board Certified โ Advanced Diabetes Management. Itโs a credential for clinicians who work at an advanced level across diabetes care, medication management, complex regimens, and treatment planning, on top of the education and nutrition work most of you already know me for.
For you, this doesnโt change how we work together day to day. It adds another layer to the clinical expertise you already get from me, particularly around medication management, so we can go even deeper into how your meds, labs, and eating patterns connect.
If youโve been wanting more support around your meds, labs, and eating patterns working together, this might be a good time to connect.
๐ Diabetes Care Is Moving Beyond Blood Sugar
One theme that kept coming up at the ADCES conference this year, diabetes care continuing its shift toward a cardiometabolic view, looking at cholesterol, blood pressure, and kidney health alongside glucose, not as separate checkboxes but as one connected picture. Thereโs actually a name for this now, cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, coined by the American Heart Association to describe how these conditions overlap and drive each other. Itโs a shift Iโve leaned into for years in how I work with clients, so it was good to spend a few days deep in the latest research and conversations shaping where the field is headed next.
๐ New on the Horizon: Libre Duo
Abbott just got FDA authorization for the Libre Duo 10 Day, the first sensor that tracks both glucose and ketones together in real time from one wear, with minute-by-minute readings and alerts if ketones start climbing. Itโs not on the market yet, expected later this year, but worth knowing about.
Why this matters? Right now, checking ketones usually means a separate blood or urine test, and it only gives you a single snapshot in time. A combined sensor means continuous background monitoring, which could catch a rising ketone trend early, before it becomes an emergency.
This is especially relevant for two groups I work with a lot: people who are insulin-dependent, where catching early signs of DKA can be lifesaving, and people managing blood sugar during pregnancy, where ketone monitoring can help show whether youโre getting enough carbohydrate through the day.
๐ก Circling Back: The Once-Weekly Insulin Is Here
Back in June, I mentioned that a once-weekly basal insulin (Awiqli) had just been FDA approved and was on its way to pharmacies. Update, itโs now available nationwide. At the conference, I got to sit in on a session about how the titration actually works, since dosing a weekly insulin is a different process than dosing a daily one.
The short version, because it stays active in your body over the full week, dose changes take a little longer to show their full effect than they would with a daily insulin. That means titration is a slower, more deliberate process, which your care team manages closely with you based on your blood sugar readings.
๐๐ปโโ๏ธ YOU ASK, I ANSWER
As always, I welcome your questions. Just hit reply and let me know whatโs on your mind, and I may feature it in a future newsletter.
๐ค Ready to Work Together?
If you're managing diabetes or weight and want to make sure your nutrition is truly working for you โ not just your numbers โ I'd love to help. I accept insurance and see clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts.
๐ Fill out my intake form here and we'll go from there.
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๐ About Karen
I'm Karen Lau, a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), and Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM), with over 15 years of clinical experience at a major medical institution, helping Asian Americans manage diabetes while honoring their cultural traditions. I work with clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts, and I do accept insurance. Ready to get started? Fill out my intake form here and we'll take it from there.
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.โ
To your healthโbody, mind, and heritage,
Karenโ
โAdvanced Diabetes Dietitian & Care Specialist (RDN, BC-ADM, CDCES)โ
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