The College of Medicine Participates with (12) Scientific Research Papers in the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2025) Conference, and Al-Sufyani Wins the Researchers’ Award
Written by: Youssef Al-Ahmari
In a notable research achievement, Dr. Mohammed Al-Sufyani, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the College of Medicine at King Saud University and Consultant of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University Medical City, was crowned with the Early Career Researcher Award from the American Diabetes Association, represented by a study titled: “Use of a Smartphone Application for Adjusting Basal Insulin Doses During Ramadan Fasting: Data from Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using a smartphone application to adjust basal insulin doses in patients with type 2 diabetes during the fasting month of Ramadan. The results of analyzing patient data over three years showed that the application helped maintain blood sugar levels within the target range without causing severe hypoglycemia; confirming that the use of modern digital technologies can be a safe and effective method for managing diabetes during fasting periods. He was the only researcher to receive this recognition for the year 2025 during the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2025) annual meeting in Chicago, USA, in May 2025; a recognition that the judging committee considered a distinguished scientific contribution reflecting future directions in the field of digital healthcare. The research was noted for its direct impact on improving patients’ quality of life and the applicability of its results in healthcare systems around the world, making it a model to be followed in applied research aimed at improving the quality of healthcare.
For his part, Professor Asem Al-Fadda (Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at the College of Medicine and Consultant of Endocrinology and Obesity at the University Medical City) explained that the conference is the largest global scientific gathering held annually in the field of diabetes research and treatment, and the leading platform that brings together top researchers, experts, and health decision-makers from around the world to present the latest innovations and discoveries in this vital field. The university participated with twelve (12) scientific contributions, addressing various themes, most notably innovative diabetes treatments, modern technologies for monitoring blood sugar levels, and the different factors influencing the disease, including obesity and nutritional factors. The contributions included research papers, scientific posters, and oral presentations, with the participation of a fully integrated research team that included board-fellowship physicians, PhD students, residents, and medical students. The conference is considered the world’s leading scientific reference and is known for its high competitiveness, with acceptance subject to strict selectivity and highly precise research standards, where only a small portion of submitted studies from prestigious universities and global research centers are accepted—demonstrating the strength of the research output and the quality of the studies, placing it among the world’s leading academic institutions in diabetes research.
Dr. Al-Sufyani, the award recipient and leader of ten (10) diverse scientific contributions at the conference, stated that the university participated with seven scientific posters that focused on studying the impact of fasting on patients with type 1 diabetes using the latest smart insulin technologies and closed-loop systems, and exploring how to improve blood sugar control and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia during fasting. The results of these studies showed that the use of modern insulin-delivery technologies—such as Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems—enables patients to fast safely while maintaining stable glucose levels. These studies are distinguished by their scientific depth and applied originality, presenting a pioneering model in employing digital solutions to enhance the quality of healthcare for patients. This grants them a broad global impact, as they contribute to establishing scientific foundations that can be applied to all forms of fasting across different cultures and for diverse religious, health-related, or societal reasons.
Al-Sufyani also noted that the seven posters included an outstanding oral abstract selected among only four abstracts in the field of “Adaptation of Diabetes Technologies,” in addition to participating with a scientific paper in a special symposium alongside two international experts from Harvard University and the University of Washington, with Al-Sufyani chairing the session in recognition of his scientific stature and research contributions in the field of diabetes.
The participating delegation from King Saud University included Dr. Sahar Al-Harthi, Endocrinology and Diabetes Fellowship Physician; Dr. Reem Al-Sharif, Diabetes Fellowship Physician; researcher Norah Al-Fadda, PhD candidate in Clinical Nutrition; and Dr. Khawlah Al-Fadda, Internship Physician at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.
