Sessions include:

Diabetes type 1
Beta cell biology
Genetics of type 1 and 2 diabetes
Insulin signaling in type 2 diabetes
Fat cells and diabetes
Diabetes complications and cures

Diabetes is one of the most important challenges to world health. It is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of adult blindness, non-traumatic amputation and end stage kidney failure. In addition it is believed to increase the risk of neurocognitive loss, physical deconditioning and frailty and is associated with an increased prevalence of most forms of cancer. Hence its economic impact is huge.. In 2014 the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be 9% among adults aged more than 18 years and WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030.

Type 1 diabetes is due to poor insulin release but the cause of this are not well understood. In the symposium aspects related to the immune basis of type 1 diabetes will be discussed by the world bests in the field. The biology of the beta cell, at the bases of the insufficient insulin secretion, will be extensively presented together with the genetic aspects of the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is the consequence of ineffective use of insulin and it comprises 90% of diabetic patients around the world; it is related to obesity and physical inactivity. Here the role of cell signaling and of fat cells has been intensively studied and will be comprehensively debated in the Symposium. The severe health consequences of diabetes have been extensively studied and cures have been already put in place; some are based on the most recent discoveries presented in the Symposium and will become routine therapy soon. Genetic predisposition, prediabetes, protein glycation, islet transplants and more will be presented and debated.

The 50th Miami Winter Symposium on “Diabetes: Todays’ Research- Tomorrows’ Therapies” will be a comprehensive presentation of the most recent research on both types of diabetes, based on which prevention and advanced cures are close to implementation.

Who should attend: all those interested in understanding the molecular bases of one of the most prevalent disease of humans; those curious to perceive how research can be translated into therapies; those, associated with pharmaceutical companies ready to transfer science into applications and those who want to teach beyond textbook information. For all these attendees, a feast has been prepared with an incredible line-up of the world leaders in the field of diabetes.