Diabetes Update 2026
- Continuing Education
Updates and Best Practices for State-of-the-Art Diabetes Care
Participating clinicians will discover the latest evidence-based approaches, data, and guidelines to assess and treat diabetes and optimize outcomes across the spectrum of patient populations.
- Live Online
This program uses state-of-the-art streaming technology to present sessions online in real time. Participants can attend from any location, and can interact with faculty via live chat.
Additionally, all sessions will be recorded and made available to participants for on-demand online viewing for 90 days after the end of the course.
All live streaming and recorded sessions are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and other relevant credits. (Note: Evaluations must be completed within 30 days of the conclusion of the course to receive CME credit.)
$745 Save with early registration
Save $100. To ensure your participation at the lowest possible cost, early registration is strongly recommended.
Fee increases to $845 after
Continuing Education
Earn up to:
» 21.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
» 21.00 ABIM MOC points
» 21.00 ANCC contact hours
» 21.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits
» 21.00 ACPE CPE credit hours
» Credits for Dietitians, Diabetes Educators, Risk Management, and Canadian and European clinicians also available
4 Days
This intensive program, which is among the highest-rated Harvard Medical School CME courses, updates busy clinicians on current best practices in treating patients with diabetes.
On This Page
Overview
The Harvard Medical School Diabetes Update
Diabetes Update is a live online course, using live streaming, electronic Q&A, and other remote learning technologies.
Education to Meet the Challenges of Diabetes Care
This course equips clinicians with practical, evidence-based approaches to meet the challenges of caring for patients with diabetes, including:
- Keeping pace with rapidly advancing clinical options for diabetes care:
- Therapies
- Technologies
- Lifestyle medicine interventions
- Designing comprehensive therapeutic interventions based on frequent diabetes-associated diseases and complications
- Accounting for a patient’s unique biological, psychological, social, financial, educational, and cultural factors
Strategies, Updates, and Best Practices for State-of-the-Art Diabetes Care
Learn from leaders in the field of diabetes who are distinguished for their outstanding teaching, knowledge, and innovations in clinical care. Participants can rely on this program for comprehensive education to:
- Design more effective treatment plans
- Utilize current anti-diabetes medications
- Diagnose and manage different types of diabetes
- Implement recent technology advances in diabetes care
- Optimize care for people with obesity
- Assess and treat cardiovascular and renal complications
- Guide patients on physical activity and medical nutrition
- Manage hypertension and dyslipidemia
- Address low engagement in therapy
- Incorporate artificial intelligence into diabetes clinical practice
New Data and Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Care
- The newest data on the identification of different types of diabetes
- The latest scientific information on how to reduce cardiovascular and renal disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
- New guidelines and practice recommendations for nutrition and physical activity coupled with instruction to incorporate them into your current approaches to diabetes care
- Criteria to navigate the controversial data related to some anti-diabetes medications
- Medical vs. surgical management of obesity
- New technologies in diabetes care: updates and implications for day-to-day care
- Research breakthroughs
- Tips and tricks for navigating barriers within health care systems
Assessment and Treatment of Complications from Diabetes
This program provides education to assess and treat:
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Renal Disease
- Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
- Obesity as it relates to Cancer and Arthritis
Optimizing Health Outcomes for Diverse Patient Populations
This course also provides comprehensive guidance to account for biological, psychological, emotional, social, financial, and cultural factors that impact the development and progression of diabetes. Coverage includes:
- Racial and ethnic minorities
- The elderly
- People with obesity
- Patients at high cardiovascular risk
- Individuals with low engagement in therapy
- Patients at low socio-economic levels
- Subjects with low health literacy/education
- Individuals with depression/emotional distress
- Patients with metabolic liver disease
Practice Impact
Over four days, you will gain new, encompassing, evidence-based approaches to address the challenges seen in most clinical practices. More importantly, you will leave with knowledge—part art, part science—to make a real difference in the lives of your patients.
In addition to being live streamed, all sessions will be recorded and placed in the online course library, enabling registrants to view them at their convenience. Recordings will be available for viewing for 90 days after the conclusion of the course. All live streaming and recorded sessions are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and other relevant credits. (Note: Evaluations must be completed within 30 days of the conclusion of the course to receive CME credit.)
Who Should Participate
- PHYSICIANS, NPs, PAs, RNs, PHARMACISTS in the fields of:
- Endocrinology
- Internal Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Obesity Medicine
- DIABETES EDUCATORS
- DIETITIANS
...and other medical professionals interested in clinical strategies and comprehensive updates for state-of-the-art diabetes care
Treatment Plans
This program offers education to design state-of-the-art treatment plans that incorporate advances in pharmacology, technology, and lifestyle medicine.
Course Leadership
A. Enrique Caballero, MD, is Faculty Director of International Innovation Programs and Faculty Director of Diabetes Education in the Office for External Education at Harvard Medical School. In 2025, he became President of Medicine and Science for the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Caballero was recently named the recipient of the 2023 Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award from the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society's 2024 Outstanding Educator Award.
Deborah J. Wexler, MD, MPH, is Chief of the Diabetes Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wexler’s research focuses on clinical effectiveness in type 2 diabetes. She has led several NIDDK- and PCORI-funded studies, including GRADE, REAL HEALTH-Diabetes, and PRECIDENTD. She is on the Editorial Board of Diabetes Care and lectures nationally on the topics of endocrinology and diabetes.
Schedule
This program is among the highest-rated Harvard Medical School CME courses.
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Please note that program changes/substitutions may be made without notice.
Monday, May 4, 2026
Welcome and Introduction
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
9:00-9:15 am
Type 1 Diabetes: What Is New?
Screening, Diagnosis, and Staging of the Disease
Dr. Bruce Perkins
9:15-9:40 am
Prevention and Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: An Update
Dr. Irl Hirsch
9:40-10:05 am
Panel Discussion and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Perkins and Hirsch
10:05-10:45 am
Break
10:45-11:00
Lifestyle Modification in Diabetes, Obesity, and Related Disorders
What Do I Tell My Patient to Eat?
Laura Andromalos, MS, RD, RN, CDCES
11:00-11:25 am
Get the Patient Moving! Exercise Recommendations
Jacqueline Shahar, MEd, RCEP, DCES
11:25-11:50 am
Panel Discussion and Practical Recommendations
Laura Andromalos, MS, RD, RN, CDCES and Jacqueline Shahar, MEd, RCEP, DCES
11:50 am-12:30 pm
Break
12:30-1:20 pm
Incorporating Technological Advances in Diabetes Care
Continuous Glucose Monitoring: For Everyone with Diabetes?
Dr. Devin Steenkamp
1:20-1:45 pm
Is There a Role in Incorporating Technological Advances for People with Prediabetes or Normal Glucose Levels?
Dr. Jorge Rodriguez
1:45-2:10 pm
Panel Discussion and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Steenkamp and Rodriguez
2:10-2:50 pm
Break
Special Lecture
The Past, Present, and Future of Diabetes Care
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
3:00-3:45 pm
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Welcome, Recap, and Introduction to Day 2
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
9:00-9:10 am
Obesity as the Focus for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes and Related Disorders
Understanding Overweight and Obesity as a Disease
9:10-9:40 am
Obesity and Cancer: Are They Truly Related?
Dr. Jennifer Ligibel
9:40-10:10 am
Obesity and Arthritis: Is It Just More Weight on the Joints?
Dr. Deborah Horan
10:10-10:50 am
Break
10:50-11:05 am
The Emotional and Psychological Impact of Obesity
Dr. Nina Crowley
11:05-11:35 am
Panel Discussion and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Ligibel, Horan, and Crowley
11:35 am-12:15 pm
Break
12:15-1:05 pm
Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: A Hot Debate
Pharmacological Management of Obesity
Dr. Jaime Almandoz
1:05-1:45 pm
Surgical Management of Obesity
Dr. Matt Hutter
1:45-2:30 pm
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Almandoz and Hutter
2:30-3:00 pm
Special Lecture
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A 2026 Vision
Dr Ken Cusi
3:00-3:45 pm
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Welcome, Recap of Day 2 and Introduction to Day 3
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
9:00-9:10 am
Cardiovascular Disease in the Patient with Diabetes
Evaluating Cardiovascular Risk: The Role of CRP, Lp(a), Apo B and Calcium Scores
Dr. Michael Blaha
9:10-9:40 am
Evaluation and Management of Congestive Heart Failure
9:40-10:10 am
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Dr. Michael Blaha
10:10-10:45 am
Break
10:45-11:00 am
Hypertension and Dyslipidemia Management in the Patient with Diabetes
Hypertension: Evaluation, Goals, and Current Treatment Recommendations
Dr. Naomi Fisher
11:00-11:25 am
Dyslipidemia: Targets and Management Guidelines
Dr. Om Ganda
11:25-11:50 am
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Fisher and Ganda
11:50 am-12:30 pm
Break
12:30-1:20 pm
Chronic Kidney Disease in Diabetes and Metabolic Care
The Need to Thoroughly Evaluate Kidney Function: Why and How?
1:20-1:50 pm
Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease: What Do the Guidelines Say?
Dr. Janani Rangaswami
1:50-2:20 pm
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Dr. Rangaswami
2:20-2:50 pm
Break
2:50-3:00 pm
Special Lecture
Artificial Intelligence in Diabetes Care: Fact or Fiction?
Janice MacLeod, MA, RD, CDCES, FADCES
3:00-3:45 pm
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Welcome, Recap of Day 3, and Introduction to Day 4
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
9:00-9:10 am
Improving Diabetes Care in the Trenches
What We All Can Do to Improve the Lives of Everyone with the Disease
Opportunities to Improve Diabetes Care in Your Community
Dr. Osagie Ebekozien
9:10-9:40 am
Question and Answer Session
Dr. Ebekozien
9:40-10:10 am
Pharmacological Management of Diabetes: Traditional Medications
Insulin Therapy in the Patient with Diabetes
10:10-10:40 am
Break
10:40-10:55 am
Traditional Medications (Biguanides, SUs, TZDs, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors)
Dr. Deborah Wexler
10:55-11:25 am
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Dr. Wexler
11:25 am-12:00 pm
Break
12:00-1:00 pm
Pharmacological Management of Type 2 Diabetes: SGLT-2 Inhibitors and GLP-1-Based Therapies
Perspectives from Different Medical Specialties
SGLT-2 Inhibitors: An Update from a Cardiologist's Perspective
Dr. Deepak Bhatt
1:00-1:35 pm
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: An Update from an Obesity/Diabetes Perspective
Dr. Caroline Apovian
1:35-2:10 pm
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists: An Update from a Nephrologist's Perspective
Dr. Romela Petrosyan
2:10-2:45 pm
Q and A and Practical Recommendations
Drs. Bhatt, Apovian, and Petrosyan
2:45-3:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Dr. A. Enrique Caballero
3:30-3:40 pm
Optimized for Distance Learning
The 2026 program has been enhanced for distance learning. In addition to being live streamed, all sessions will be recorded and made available to participants for online viewing for 90 days after the end of the course. This on-demand archive will permit those in different time zones or who have scheduling conflicts to avoid missing out on any sessions that are important to them. In addition, participants can review sessions to reinforce key learning points.
Along with recordings and course presentations, additional resources such as guidelines, recent articles, and relevant patient education materials will also be available.
All live streaming and recorded sessions are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ and other relevant credits. (Note: Evaluations must be completed within 30 days of the conclusion of the course to receive CME credit.)
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Design comprehensive diabetes care strategies that consider all factors that can influence care.
- Design comprehensive diabetes care strategies that consider all factors to support positive outcomes.
- Identify teaching strategies that have been successful in promoting diabetes self-management.
- Recognize and incorporate strategies that address the needs of special populations into a comprehensive diabetes care plan.
- Design comprehensive diabetes management plans that incorporate the most recent guidelines for the use of non-pharmacologic and pharmacological therapies
Faculty
Course Directors
- Associate Professor of Medicine
- Faculty Director, Diabetes Education, Office for External Education
- Director of International Innovation Programs, Office for External Education, Harvard Medical School
- President of Medicine and Science, American Diabetes Association
Deborah Wexler
MD, MPH
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Chief, Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital
Caroline Apovian, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Co-Director, Center for Weight Management and Wellness, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Naomi D. Fisher, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director, Hypertension Specialty Clinic and Hypertension Innovation, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Om P. Ganda, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Medical Director, Lipid Clinic; Chair, Clinical Oversight Committee, Joslin Diabetes Center
Matthew M. Hutter, MD, MPH, MBA, Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Director, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Weight Center
Jennifer Ligibel, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Senior Physician, Breast Oncology Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Romela Petrosyan, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Nephrologist and Proceduralist, Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Jorge Rodriguez, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Brigham and Women's Hospital
Deborah Wexler, MD, MSC, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; and Chief, Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital
Jamie Almandoz, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Director, Weight Wellness Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Laura Andromalos, MS, RD, RN, CSOWM, CDCES, Staff Nurse, Hennepin Healthcare
Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, FESC, MSCAI, Director of Mount Sinai Heart; Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System
Michael Blaha, MD, MPH, Director of Clinical Research and Director of the Cardiometabolic Clinic, Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Nina Crowley, PhD, RD, LD, Director, Clinical Education and Partnerships, seca – precision for health
Kenneth Cusi, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida
Osagie Ebokozien, MD, PPH, CPHQ, Chief Quality Officer, American Diabetes Association
Irl Hirch, MD, MACP, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, UW Medicine Diabetes Institute
Deborah Horn, MD, Professor in the Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston; Medical Director, UT Physicians Center for Obesity Medicine and Metabolic Performance
Janice MacLeod, MA, RD, CDCES, FADCES, Consultant at Transforming healthcare
Bruce Perkins, MD, MPH FRCP(C), Professor of Medicine and Clinician-Scientist, University of Toronto; The Sam and Judy Pencer Family Chair in Diabetes and Director, Diabetes Clinical Research Unit, Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Sinai Health System
Janani Rangaswami, MD, FACP, FCRS, FAHA, Chief of Nephrology, Washington DC VA Medical Center; Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine
Jacqueline I. Shahar, MEd, CDCES, Manager, Clinical Exercise Physiology; Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist; Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Joslin Diabetes Center
Devin Steenkamp, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine; Director of Clinical Diabetes, Boston Medical Center
Course Fees
Registration Details
Registrations for Harvard Medical School CME programs are made via our secure online registration system. At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Upon receipt of your paid registration, an email confirmation will be sent to you. Be sure to include an email address that you check frequently. Your email address is used for critical information, including registration confirmation, evaluation, and certificate.
Please review the cancellation policy.
Early Registration Deadline:
| Role | Course Fee | Early Registration Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $845 | $745 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $845 | $745 |
| PA | $845 | $745 |
| Psychologist | $845 | $745 |
| Resident/Fellow | $845 | $745 |
| Social Worker | $845 | $745 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $845 | $745 |
All registrants of Diabetes Update 2026 will receive an electronic syllabus.
All sessions will be recorded as they are live streamed and placed in the online course video library, so that registrants can review them at their convenience. The video library will be available for 90 days after the conclusion of the course.
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 21.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 21.00 ANCC contact hours, of which 4.25 is eligible for pharmacology credit.
Harvard Medical School has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 21.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Harvard Medical School designates this knowledge-based activity for a maximum of 21.00 hours. Credit will be provided to NABP CPE Monitor within 60 days after the activity completion. UAN JA0000216-0000-26-002-L01-P.
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 21.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (One IPCE credit = One CPEU). If the activity is dietetics-related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (One 60 minute hour = 1 CPEU). RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 in their Activity Log. Sphere and Competency selection is at the learner’s discretion.
This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 4.75 credits of Risk Management Study. This includes:
- 0.50 credits of End-of-Life Care Education
Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.
Harvard Medical School is accredited as a provider of continuing education by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and this activity is applicable to diabetes. Any diabetes educators who wish to use this activity towards their requirement for CDCES renewal of certification can self-report this activity to the CBDCE. If you are chosen for audit, the certificate provided to you after completion of the course evaluation will be sufficient for this audit.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.