To conclude this season of Digging Into Diabetes, our host summarizes a few of the studies mentioned throughout other episodes and chats with Dr. Rochelle Naylor about atypical diabetes research at the University of Chicago.

To learn more about the Kovler Diabetes Center’s research, visit www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/diabetes/researchor contact our research team at [email protected] to learn if one of our studies may be a good fit for you and your family.

The dysfunction and/or death of islet beta cells is a well-documented pathogenesis for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. However, what exactly leads to the decreased function of the beta cell is not quite so clear. Today, Sophie learns more about some of the current beta cell research happening here at The University of Chicago with Professor of Medicine, Dr. Raghu Mirmira.

There are new advances in diabetes medication and technology all the time, yet access to live-saving insulin can still be difficult due to the exponentially increasing costs. Learn more about cost-associated barriers surrounding diabetes on today’s episode.

Diabetes affects more than your physical health, it often takes an emotional and mental toll as well. This week on Digging Into Diabetes, we catch up with Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and lead of the Kovler Health & Wellness team, Dr. Tina Drossos to learn more about the holistic diabetes care model at Kovler.

As a chronic illness, diabetes management requires a high level of self discipline and self-management. At the Kovler Diabetes Center, we hope to support patients through this disease management journey not only through expert endocrinologists, but a top-tier diabetes care and education team as well. Tune into a round table with a few members of this crucial  team which includes registered dietitians, diabetes care and educations specialists, nurses and more.

Diabetes disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, and that is certainly true in Chicago as well. In today’s episode, we discuss healthcare disparities, what they are and how they can have a direct impact on diabetes care.

Today’s guests include Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Celeste Thomas, who joins Sophie to discuss what healthcare disparities are. Then, they dig into one of Dr. Thomas’ current research efforts: a study titled “Using Technology to Address Disparities and Promote Healthcare Equity in Type 1 Diabetes”, or EquiT1D.

Sophie then speaks with Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. Arshiya Baig to share some of the community-based interventions she is working on amongst Latinx communities to address disparities in care.

In today’s episode, we investigate some of the unique challenges pediatric and elderly patients may experience whilst managing diabetes. First, Dr. Rochelle Naylor, a pediatric endocrinologist specializing in neonatal diabetes joins us to offer her insights on the pediatric patient population. Then, Sophie connects with Dr. Elbert Huang, a doctor of internal medicine with a particular interest in health care policy and diabetes prevention. He, along with Dr. Stacey Lindau, are currently overseeing the My Diabetes, My Community (MDMC) clinical trial to see how personalized goal setting and diabetes management can impact outcomes for older adults with type 2 diabetes. Sharon Velkovich is one of the nurses involved in this study, and she shares more about the day-to-day study operations.

To learn more about the My Diabetes My Community study, contact our Clinical Research team by emailing [email protected].

Since the early 2000s, the Kovler Diabetes Center at the University of Chicago has been paving the way to offer holistic diabetes care to each and every patient that visits their clinic. So what does that mean? Listen in as Sophie digs into the history of diabetes care at UChicago, and the why behind the Kovler mission.

To learn more about the Kovler Diabetes Center, visit kovlerdiabetescenter.org.