Advances in Diabetes and Obesity Management, 2026
Diabetes and obesity management involve more than controlling blood sugar or addressing weight. Treatment decisions can affect cardiovascular and kidney health, nutrition, liver function, and mental health. The 2026 Advances in Diabetes & Obesity Management conference explored these connections through presentations on emerging therapies, technology, nutrition, prevention, and behavioral health.
Hosted Nov. 6 by the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the one-day conference brought together specialists from several specialties to discuss current approaches to metabolic health on the Levitt Center’s fourth floor.
The morning sessions focused on weight management and its larger health implications. Kathleen Robinson, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism, discussed obesity pharmacotherapy. Sara Orlowski, RDN, a clinical outpatient dietitian with the Iowa City VA Health Care System’s MOVE program, laid out nutritional strategies for losing weight while maintaining muscle mass.
Clinical Associate Professor in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Marta Tejedor Bravo, MD, MSc, PhD, discussed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and the liver’s role in metabolic health. Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, of Oregon Health and Science University, delivered the keynote lecture on heart failure in diabetes. Additional sessions covered cortisol secretion and diabetes, as well as emerging therapies to protect kidney function in patients with diabetes and obesity. Amr Wahba, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism, examined mild autonomous cortisol secretion and its relationship to diabetes.
Afternoon presentations kicked off with a look at diabetes technology and kidney health. Bianca Carlson, PA-C, Physician Associate in the Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic, and Yumi Imai, MD, Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism, reviewed automated insulin delivery systems and continuous glucose monitoring through updates and case studies. Masaaki Yamada, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor in Nephrology, discussed therapies to protect kidney function in patients with diabetes and obesity.
The conference also explored the relationship between GLP-1 treatment and mental health. Jacob Priest, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor in Endocrinology and of Psychiatry, presented GLP-1s and Mental Health: Research, Relevance, and Resistance. His presentation examined how GLP-1 medications can affect mood, eating behaviors, and quality of life. He described how adverse childhood experiences can contribute to binge eating and sustain cycles of shame and weight-related challenges. While appreciating the benefits of GLP-1 therapy for weight management and binge eating, Priest called attention to the importance of looking beyond eating behaviors and weight themselves to understand the underlying psychological factors that may cause them in the first place.
Ayotunde Dokun, MD, PhD, Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, closed the sessions by discussing how to implement the National Clinical Care Commission’s recommendations for diabetes prevention and care, using rural Iowa as a national model.
Together, the presentations gave attendees perspectives on the medical, nutritional, technological, and psychological factors that shape diabetes and obesity care. Thank you to all of the conference organizers for making the event possible, and to Marcelo Correia, MD, MSc, PhD, for serving as moderator.
