Children’s National showcases pediatric diabetes research at major scientific meeting - Children's National

Children's National researchers and clinicians brought a broad portfolio of pediatric diabetes research to the American Diabetes Association 2026 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, Louisiana, highlighting how multidisciplinary innovation is shaping diabetes care for children and adolescents. Through oral and poster presentations, the team shared work focused on early-stage Type 1 diabetes screening, youth-onset Type 2 diabetes, behavioral health, nutrition and diabetes technology - reflecting a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for patients and families.

Oral presentations

The oral presentations highlighted key questions in pediatric diabetes care, from early-stage Type 1 diabetes screening and psychosocial support to treatment strategies and nutrition-focused interventions for youth with Type 2 diabetes.

• Operationalizing Early-Stage Type 1 Diabetes Screening and Monitoring: A Pediatric Multicenter T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Initiative - Sarah Lydia Holly, BSN, RN, Shideh Majidi, MD
• The Need for Psychological Support Throughout the Early Stages of Type 1 Diabetes - Shideh Majidi, MD
• Diabetes, Dietary, and Behavioral Findings in a Food Is Medicine Intervention in Youth with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes - Jasmine Roberts, Kimberly Pitner, BSN, RN, Shideh Majidi, MD

Poster presentations

The researchers showcased the scope of pediatric diabetes research in their poster presentations, spanning cardiometabolic risk, diabetes technology, behavioral health and family-centered care.

• Delayed Autonomic Recovery during Submaximal Exercise in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: The Young at Heart Study - Nicole Rangos, MD, Stephanie Chung, MBBS
• TechMeet Teams Up to Tackle Pump Use: A Quality Improvement Initiative - Amanda Perkins, NP, CPNP, MPH, Shideh Majidi, MD, Rachel Longendyke, MD, Sarah Lydia Holly, BSN, RN, Alyssa Danner, BSN, RN, CDCES, Jennifer Reilly, RD, CDCES, Jody Grundman, MD
• Improving Food Insecurity through a Clinic Food Pharmacy Program - Chaitanya Sambangi, DO, Emily Wilkerson, RDN, CDCES, LDN, Jasmine Roberts, Shideh Majidi, MD
• Agreement of Continuous Glucose Monitoring during Oral Glucose and Mixed Meal Tests - Stephanie Chung, MBBS, Nicole Rangos, MD
• Recruitment of Spanish-Speaking Families into a Behavioral Intervention Trial - Giselle Maya, Sydney White, Shideh Majidi, MD, Randi Streisand, PhD, CDCES
• Early Vascular Aging in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: Associations with Glucose and Insulin Responses in the Young at Heart Study - Nicole Rangos MD, Stephanie Chung, MBBS
• Shared Gains, Stubborn Gaps: Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Outcomes at Diabetes Camp - Jody Grundman, MD, Chaitanya Sambangi, DO, Nicole Rangos, MD, Amanda Perkins, NP, Randi Streisand, PhD, CDCES, Shideh Majidi, MD, Rachel Longendyke, MD
• High Day-to-Day Glycemic Variability in Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes - Nicole Rangos, MD, Elizabeth Estrada, MD, Stephanie Chung, MBBS
• Wait-List-Design Pilot CGM-Behavioral Intervention for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Twelve-Month Primary Outcomes - Emma Straton, BA, Sydney White, Rachel Longendyke, MD, Giselle Maya, Amanda Perkins, NP, CPNP, MPH, Shideh Majidi MD, Randi Streisand, PhD, CDCES
• Engaging English- and Spanish-Speaking Youth and Parents in an App-Based Type 1 Diabetes Behavioral Intervention - Sydney White, Giselle Maya, Olivia Soutullo, PhD, Shideh Majidi, MD, Randi Streisand, PhD, CDCES

Together, the presentations reflected the breadth of work by researchers in pediatric diabetes - from early detection and psychosocial support to nutrition, technology and long-term risk reduction. Just as important, they illustrated how collaborative research can translate into more responsive, family-centered care for children living with diabetes and related metabolic conditions.