Our team thoroughly enjoyed the 42nd International Symposium on Diabetes and Nutrition, DNSG 2025. Typically held in Europe, this year’s meeting took place in Ottawa, Canada, bringing together top-tier scientists, brilliant researchers and eager students, for an outstanding scientific program. Here are some of the new scientific developments presented at the conference:

• Sweetness preference is stable: An intervention study showed no relationship between sweetness preference and sweetness exposure. After six months of low, medium, or high dietary sugar intake, sweetness preference among participants did not change.
• The impact of sugar on health depends on source and structure: Research continues to strengthen the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This relationship appears to differ from that of sugars consumed through solid foods. The impact of sugar on health is nuanced—source and type matter, and glycemic index (GI) remains a useful metric.
• Carbohydrate Quality Index (CQI): CQI is emerging as a meaningful marker, with higher scores inversely associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
• Limits of Continuous Glucose Monitors in personalized nutrition: While continuous glucose monitors are valuable tools, they may not be reliable for identifying optimal diets at the individual level.
• Tech innovations: New app-based tools for dietary and disease management show promise for improving care and patient engagement.

As always, we returned energized and inspired by the latest research—and the opportunity to connect with peers and collaborators. We are looking forward to next year’s conference in Spain!