Diabetes Dialogue: Embracing Diabetes Tech and Social Media as a Clinician, with David Ahn, MD

The advent of social media has altered the manner in which humans communicate and disseminate information, particularly in the medical field. The exchange of data and ideas among clinicians has been a constant on popular platforms since the advent of social media after the turn of the century.

Although their presence has been constant, physicians have moved with the ebbs and flows of platforms to identify the best mediums for engaging one another as well as their patients. Since its founding in 2006, Twitter has served as a primary source for this information sharing.. More recently, TikTok has emerged as what many would consider an unlikely source of information for engaging patient communities through a more engaging medium than what is offered by other platforms. Now, Threads looks to become the next titan in social media to provide such an outlet.

Among the clinicians who have embraced social media as an outlet for disseminating information and building a platform is David Ahn, MD, chief of Diabetes Services at the Hoag Hospital Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center, but who is known in some circles by his call handles: AhnCall and DiabetesDoc on Twitter and TikTok, respectively. With more than 1 million views across his 75 videos, including more than 700,000 on a video comparing continuous glucose monitor sensor sizes, Ahn serves as a prime example of a clinician who uses modern mediums to connect with patients and expand his platform.

During his time on-site at the 83rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA 2023), Ann served as chair of a symposium titled “Overcoming Barriers to Diabetes Technology”. Ahead of this session at ADA 2023, Ahn sat down with Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center, for a special edition episode of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives.

In addition to providing hosts with perspectives on navigating and leveraging social media as a platform for clinicians, our hosts ask Ahn for his perspective on some of the recent advances in diabetes technology observed during 2023, which includes approvals or clearances for devices such as Dexcom G7, the iLet Bionic Pancreas, TidePool Loop, and more!

Relevant disclosures for Dr. Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Dr. Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Provention Bio, and others. Heverly reports no relevant disclosures. Relevant disclosures for Dr. Hoag include Senseonics, Mannkind, and Ascensia.