When you work in diabetes every day, you see the statistics, the market trends, and the clinical realities. When you look a little closer and listen to families navigating diagnosis or clinicians trying to personalize care in overextended health systems, you see something deeper. You see the people behind every data point. This perspective is why I am honored to serve as Chair for the 2026 Boston State of Diabetes event.
Serving as Chair is a responsibility that I care about deeply. Diabetes affects millions of people in this country, and each statistic represents a person, a family, and a community navigating something that touches every part of daily life. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) created the State of Diabetes initiative to elevate those experiences and to bring the diabetes community together in a focused and meaningful way.
This event has grown from eight cities in 2022 to more than thirty across the country today. Boston has always been one of the strongest markets for engagement and thought leadership, and the work that happens here often influences how the program evolves nationally. People come because they are looking for real information and real solutions. They want to hear from experts they can trust. They want to connect with others who understand what life with diabetes looks like and what is changing in the field.
At Glooko, our mission is to give people with diabetes and their care teams tools that make life easier and care more personalized. That work aligns closely with the goals of the ADA. The ADA continues to lead with science, education, advocacy, and support for communities that often need more resources and more transparency around the care they receive. The State of Diabetes creates a space for these priorities to come together. It also creates a place where innovators, clinicians, employers, payers, and community members can learn from one another.
What makes this initiative meaningful to me is the human side of the story. Behind every product, program, or policy are people who are trying to manage a demanding and constant condition. Many are newly diagnosed. Many are caring for a child or an aging parent. Many are clinicians working hard to avoid burnout and keep pace with changing technology and clinical guidance. The event gives us room to talk honestly about those experiences and to highlight the progress that is being made.
As Chair, I hope to help broaden that conversation by inviting new partners to participate, lifting up the important work of the ADA, and encouraging collaboration across the diabetes ecosystem. We have a full year of preparation ahead, and I look forward to sharing updates as we move toward the 2026 event in November.
My goal is simple. I want this initiative to reflect the reality of diabetes today and to shine a light on the ideas and partnerships that can move us forward. People living with diabetes deserve access to care that is reliable, informed, and compassionate. I believe this effort can play a role in creating that future.