Three studies making the headlines at EASD 2026

From the relationship between glucose control and quality of life to the benefits of exercise and an unexpected finding on COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes, we highlight three studies presented at EASD 2026 in Milan.

EASD 2026 took place in Milan, Italy, from September 28 to October 2, 2026, bringing together researchers and healthcare professionals to explore the latest advances in diabetes research, treatment, and care.

Across four days of scientific presentations, new data offered fresh insights into diabetes prevention, management, and the factors influencing long-term outcomes. From the relationship between glucose control and quality of life to the benefits of physical activity and the potential link between COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes, we highlight three studies that made the headlines at EASD 2026.

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1. Could stricter glucose control come at the expense of quality of life?

New research suggests that minimizing glucose fluctuations too strictly may come at a cost to quality of life for people living with diabetes.

The PRO-MENTAL study analyzed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data alongside daily quality-of-life assessments from 400 people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes over 14 days. Researchers found that both greater time spent in normoglycemia (70–140 mg/dL) and higher glucose variability on the previous day were significantly associated with better quality of life the following day.

The findings suggest that efforts to maintain very stable glucose levels may sometimes place restrictions on daily activities and enjoyment. However, the observational study does not establish that tighter control causes poorer well-being.

Key takeaway: Glucose management should balance optimal glycemic outcomes with quality of life, recognizing the potential burden of maintaining very tight glucose control.

Presentation: Ehrmann D, Hermanns N, Schmitt A, Klinker LY, Kulzer B. “Fun is not a straight line”: greater glucose variability and more time in normoglycaemia on the previous day are significantly associated with next-day quality of life. Oral presentation 43. Session OP 08: Diabetes and mental health. Presented at: 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD); September 29, 2026; Milan, Italy.

2. Exercise and diabetes prevention: Who benefits most?

A large UK Biobank study has highlighted important age-related differences in the relationship between physical activity and type 2 diabetes risk.

Analyzing data from 87,975 adults over a median follow-up of approximately eight years, researchers found that lower levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with more than twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes among adults younger than 63 years, compared with those who were more active. Among older adults, lower activity levels were associated with a 65% higher relative risk. However, because older adults have a higher underlying risk of diabetes, the absolute difference in diabetes incidence between activity groups was greater at older ages.

The findings highlight the importance of considering both relative and absolute risk when developing diabetes prevention strategies.

Key takeaway: Physical activity is important for diabetes prevention across all ages. Although the relative association is stronger in younger adults, increasing activity among older adults could have a particularly important population-level impact.

Publication: Feng Q, Noordam R, Hu D, Albalak G, Willems van Dijk K, van Heemst D. Age-specific associations of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with relative and absolute risk of type 2 diabetes in UK Biobank participants. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2026;28(11):10099–10109. doi:10.1111/dom.71214

3. COVID-19 infection linked to lower subsequent type 1 diabetes risk in Danish study

Challenging some previous concerns about a potential link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and type 1 diabetes, new Danish research has identified an unexpected association.

The nationwide study compared 2,115 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before age 30 with 10,575 matched controls. Researchers found that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 16% lower risk of subsequent type 1 diabetes, with a 42% lower risk observed in the period 31–180 days after infection. No significant association was identified in other post-infection time windows.

The overall association was statistically significant among unvaccinated individuals but not among vaccinated individuals; however, there was no significant evidence that vaccination status modified the association. The researchers emphasized that the observational findings cannot establish a protective effect of infection and that further studies are needed to understand the relationship.

Key takeaway: The findings add to conflicting evidence on the relationship between COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes, highlighting the need for further research into potential immune mechanisms. They do not establish that infection prevents diabetes.

Presentation: Nolsøe C, Sørensen K, Gnesin F, et al. SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent risk of type 1 diabetes in individuals under 30: a nationwide nested case-control study. Short oral presentation 328. Session SO 010: Rethinking type 1 diabetes: causes, classification and cohorts. Presented at: 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD); September 30, 2026; Milan, Italy.