Conan Tu, MD, is chief of Adult Primary Care, Eastern Long Island for Optum NY/NJ.

Conan Tu, MD

Diabetes Dialogue: Addressing America's Shortage of Diabetes Care Providers, with Jay Shubrook, DO, & Conan Tu, MD

85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2025)

, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, welcome Jay Shubrook, DO, and Conan Tu, MD, to explore the mission and momentum of the 

The conversation centers on addressing the national shortage of diabetes specialists. Shubrook, a primary care diabetologist and founding figure in diabetology training, details the evolution of fellowship programs dating back to 2004, with the current infrastructure supporting 11 programs and plans for further expansion. Tu, an internist from New York, shares his personal journey into diabetology, emphasizing the increasing demand for diabetes-focused care in primary settings and the transformative impact of timely, expert-level interventions.

The guests outline how the American College of Diabetology is building a standardized, certified workforce through board certification, with an emphasis on team-based care. The College is also actively expanding to include pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals in its educational and certification efforts, helping to equip interdisciplinary teams to manage diabetes more effectively.

Additional discussion highlights include the importance of continuity of care—particularly during the transition from pediatric to adult diabetes services—the integration of cardiometabolic risk management, and the critical need for scalable models of care. The speakers advocate for diabetologists to serve not only as direct providers but as in-house experts, mentors, and system-level educators capable of elevating care across large networks.



Learn more about the American College of Diabetology.

Relevant disclosures for Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Sanofi, and others. Relevant dislcures for Tu include AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, and Optum. Relevant disclosures for Shubrook include Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Eli Lilly and Company, and Novo Nordisk.

Podcasts

Explore the urgent need for diabetes specialists and the American College of Diabetology's efforts to enhance care through education and certification.

Conan Tu, MD

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