Arvid Sandforth, MD, physician scientist, Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Tübingen, Germany

Arvid Sandforth, MD

Timing Matters in Prediabetes Remission, with Arvid Sandforth, MD

Achieving early remission of prediabetes to normal glucose regulation (NGR) during lifestyle intervention offered additional protective be

These findings were presented at at the 

2025 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions

, held June 20-23, in Chicago, Illinois, by primary investigator Arvid Sandforth, MD, physician scientist, Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Tübingen, Germany.

The analysis compared, from a prediabetes lifestyle intervention study, responders that returned to normal glycemia at an early time point after 6 months, participants that reached remission after 12 months, and participants that never reached remission. Both responder groups at 6 months (relative risk [RR], 0.15 [95% CI, 0.07-0.31]; 

 <.001) and 12 months (RR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.23-0.82]; 

 = .009) had a protective effect against T2D, but the group that reached early remission was even better off than the ones reaching later remission (RR, 0.31 [95% CI, 0.12-0.79]; 

HCPLive spoke with Sandforth to learn more about the analysis, its rationale, and its findings. He also touched on further research he would like to do concerning sex and ethnicity differences. Lastly, he stressed that clinicians should keep these findings in mind and do what they can to help their patients with prediabetes to help themselves and reach remission, the earlier the better.

“The most important part is to be aware that early detection matters and to be aware that remission is attainable, right? It's a target that's worth striving for. And also, I think, having this in mind, providing people with resources that the patients help themselves [with is important],” Sandforth said.

Sandforth A, Sandforth L, Katzenstein S, et al. Early vs. Late Prediabetes Remission during Lifestyle Intervention Is Relevant for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention. Presented at: ADA 2025; June 20-23; Chicago, Illinois. Presentation #163-OR

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Sandforth discussed his research that found that early prediabetes remission conferred greater protective effects against T2D than later remission.

HCPLive Five at ADA Scientific Sessions 2025

2025 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, held June 20–23 in Chicago

, reflected a shifting paradigm in diabetes care prioritizing comprehensive approaches to glucose management, cardiometabolic health, and patient-centered outcomes. This year’s meeting featured a diverse slate of groundbreaking research spanning automated insulin delivery, weekly insulin alternatives, and novel interventions tackling unique drivers of glycemic dysregulation.

Among the most talked-about data were CIRCUIT trial findings on automated insulin delivery systems improving time-in-range during pregnancy; the QWINT program’s demonstration that once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa can effectively replace daily basal insulin; and evidence supporting prediabetes remission as a superior goal to weight loss for type 2 diabetes prevention. Additional highlights included the CATALYST trial’s success with mifepristone in hypercortisolism-related diabetes and the STRIDE trial’s new insights into semaglutide’s effects on walking capacity and disease progression in patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease.

Hybrid Closed Loop Insulin Improves Time in Range for T1D During Pregnancy, with Lois Donovan, MD, and Denice Feig, MD, MSc

The CIRCUIT trial compared an automated insulin delivery (AID) system using Control-IQ technology to standard care in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, presented at ADA 2025 by Lois Donovan, MD, and Denice Feig, MD. Participants using the hybrid closed-loop system achieved a 12.6% (95% CI, 9.9–15.2; 

<.001) higher time in range during pregnancy (TIRp) compared with standard care (65.4% vs. 50.3%). Additionally, the AID group had 11.4% (95% CI, 8.6–14.2; 

<.001) less time above range, 1.04% (95% CI, 0.6–1.48; 

<.001) less time below 63 mg/dL, and a mean glucose 11.2 mg/dL lower than standard care (95% CI, 7.2–16.2; 

Once-Weekly Insulin Efsitora a Practical Option for Type 2 Diabetes, with Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD

The QWINT-3 phase 3 trial investigated weekly insulin efsitora alfa versus daily insulin degludec in patients with type 2 diabetes switching from basal insulin, presented at ADA 2025 by Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD. Weekly efsitora injections were non-inferior to daily degludec for glycemic control, supporting its potential as a practical alternative. Philis-Tsimikas noted the findings suggest switching to weekly insulin could substantially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Glycemic Control Trumps Weight Loss for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, with Arvid Sandforth, MD

A prediabetes lifestyle intervention study presented by Arvid Sandforth, MD, at ADA 2025 showed achieving normal glycemia, regardless of weight change, provided the same protective effect against developing type 2 diabetes. Participants achieving glycemic remission experienced significantly reduced T2D incidence even if they maintained or gained weight, compared to those who did not normalize glycemia. The multicenter German study highlighted that while weight loss remains a powerful tool, achieving glycemic control should be prioritized as the primary prevention target.

Diabetes Dialogue: CATALYST Trial, Mifepristone, and Hypercortisolism in T2D, with John Buse, MD, PhD

The phase 4 CATALYST trial enrolled 1055 adults with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c >7.5% despite optimized therapy, screening for hypercortisolism using dexamethasone suppression testing, which identified a 24% prevalence (95% CI, 21.4–26.7%). In part 2, 136 patients with confirmed hypercortisolism were randomized 2:1 to mifepristone or placebo for 24 weeks, with mifepristone reducing HbA1c by 1.3 percentage points versus placebo (95% CI, –1.81 to –0.83; 

 <.001). Secondary outcomes showed reductions of 5.12 kg in body weight (95% CI, –8.20 to –2.03) and 5.1 cm in waist circumference (95% CI, –8.23 to –1.99) relative to placebo.

New Data Supports Protective Vascular Effects of Semaglutide in T2D and PAD, with Subodh Verma, MD, PhD

The STRIDE trial randomized 792 adults with T2D and PAD to semaglutide (n=396) or placebo (n=396) for 52 weeks, presented by Subodh Verma, MD, PhD, at ADA 2025. Patients receiving semaglutide showed a median baseline-adjusted maximum walking distance ratio of 1.21 compared with 1.08 for placebo. Semaglutide also reduced the risk of a composite disease progression endpoint—including death, major adverse limb events, or rescue medication use—by 54% relative to placebo.

These 5 represent only some of the data the 

 team covered at this year's meeting! Check out more KOL insight and our full conference coverage on our 

From uncovering new benefits of semaglutide to targeting hypercortisolism in people with type 2 diabetes, here are 5 key updates from the annual meeting.

Targeting Glycemic Control Over Weight Loss for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, with Arvid Sandforth, MD

New research posits that prediabetes remission based off of achieving glycemic targets should be the primary treatment goal for type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention, rather than weight loss targets.

These findings were presented by primary investigator Arvid Sandforth, MD, physician scientist, Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases, Tübingen, Germany, at the 

HCPLive spoke with Sandforth during the meeting to learn more about how prediabetes remission has emerged as an effective target for preventing T2D. Sandforth gave an overview of the pre-diabetes lifestyle intervention study he investigated, which is a multicenter study from the German Center for Diabetes Research. He shared some exciting findings from the study, which found that, across subgroups of weight loss, weight stability, and weight gain, achieving normal glycemia provided the same protective effect against developing T2D. While he stressed that losing weight remains the most effective way to reach pre-diabetes remission, achieving glycemic control seems to be the more important factor even if weight is not lost.

“[This] ties in into the concept of clinical obesity as a general concept that's being put forward more and more. And I think that's very important… it's not overweight or obesity per se. It's the wrong lipids at the wrong place,” Sandforth said. “T2D, that's hyperglycemia, [is] the thing we're trying to prevent. So why not look at glycemia when it comes to prevention? Why not introduce glycemic targets as an add on?”

Sandforth A, Sandforth L, Katzenstein S, et al. Achieving Prediabetes Remission during Lifestyle Intervention Is More Effective Than Weight Loss for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention. Presented at: ADA 2025; June 20-23; Chicago, Illinois. Presentation #163-OR

Sandforth emphasized the important of achieving prediabetes remission for preventing T2D as seen in his new research.

Arvid Sandforth, MD

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