What's new in the American Diabetes Association's 2026 diabetes care standards

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), on Dec. 8, 2025, released its "Standards of Care in Diabetes — 2026," the organization’s annual update to its evidence-based guidelines for diagnosing and managing diabetes and prediabetes throughout a patient's life.

Published as a supplement to the January 2026 issue of Diabetes Care, the document provides updated strategies for diagnosing and treating diabetes in children, adolescents and adults; preventing or delaying diabetes and its related conditions; and improving long-term health outcomes for people living with the disease.

The ADA updates the standards each year through its Professional Practice Committee (PPC), which is composed of clinicians and researchers from multiple disciplines.

“The 2026 ‘Standards of Care in Diabetes’ represents significant advancement in the delivery of evidence-based, person-centered care," said the ADA's chief scientific and medical officer Rita Kalyani, M.D., M.H.S. "These guidelines synthesize the latest scientific research with practical clinical strategies, thereby equipping health care professionals with the tools necessary to provide optimal care for individuals living with diabetes."

This year’s update reflects evidence from the latest scientific research and clinical trials and continues the ADA’s shift toward integrating cardiometabolic, kidney and liver risk management into routine diabetes care.

While the technical recommendations touch nearly every aspect of diabetes management, the standards also reinforce broader themes around person-centered treatment, multidisciplinary care and the growing role of digital health tools.

The ADA said the 2026 Standards include guidance on diabetes technology, obesity medications, nutrition, preventive care, hospital-based management, pregnancy, pediatrics and older adults. The organization also noted that this year’s update adds or expands guidance on behavioral health screening, education and workplace accommodations related to diabetes technology use.

The PPC for Diabetes, which led development of the 2026 standards, was co-chaired this year by Mandeep Bajaj, M.B.B.S., FRCP, and Rozalina G. McCoy, M.D., M.S. The committee includes physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dietitians, certified diabetes care and education specialists and methodologists with expertise across cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, pediatrics and public health.

Several outside medical societies endorsed sections of the 2026 standards, including the American College of Cardiology, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Geriatrics Society, The Obesity Society, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes.

“The Standards of Care is a vital part of the ADA’s efforts to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. It offers the trusted support needed for people living with diabetes and those caring for them while we continue to push toward a cure,” said Charles Henderson, the ADA’s chief executive officer.

The full 2026 Standards of Care is now available online through Diabetes Care.

Patient Care Online has more on the updated standards.