Current 59 - Key Updates from the 2026 ADA Standards of Care

Summary

The American Diabetes Association has released its updated Standards of Care in Diabetes - 2026.^1,2

Key updates include:

• Recommendation to consider the use of continuous glucose monitoring at the onset of diabetes and at anytime thereafter to improve diabetes management outcomes. Additionally, automated insulin delivery systems should be available to all adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who require insulin, especially those requiring multiple injections per day.
• Expanded nutrition guidance emphasizes eating patterns shown to reduce type 2 diabetes risk, with patient‑friendly resources on Mediterranean-style and low‑carbohydrate approaches. Recommendation for annual screening for overweight and obesity, using body mass index with an additional body fat measure, when available, to accurately assess excess adiposity.
• Recommendation to aim for 5% to 7% weight loss to improve hyperglycemia and other cardiometabolic risk factors for individualized dosing for obesity pharmacotherapy in people with diabetes. Dose selection and titration should balance efficacy, tolerability, cost, and overall benefit. For individuals with type 1 diabetes and obesity, treatment options may include GLP‑1 receptor agonist therapy and/or metabolic surgery.
• Blood pressure goals for high-risk patients include < 120 mmHg systolic for those with high cardiovascular or kidney risk, < 130/80 mmHg for older adults when safe, and < 140/90 mmHg for individuals with poor health or limited life expectancy.

Overall, the Standards reinforce shared decision making grounded in patient’ values, preferences, comorbidities, prognosis, and financial considerations.

Sources

1. American Diabetes Association. The American Diabetes Association Releases “Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026.” https://diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/american-diabetes-association-releases-standards-care-diabetes-2026. Published December 8, 2025. Accessed December 13, 2025.

2. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee for Diabetes*; Summary of Revisions: Standards of Care in Diabetes–2026. Diabetes Care. 2026; 49(1 Suppl 1):S6-S12. doi:10.2337/dc26-SREV.

This summary was created with assistance from generative artificial intelligence (Microsoft Copilot, 2026)