The PCDL team posing together at their retreat in early November. They came together as a team to focus on “big picture” ideas and direction for the lab, and to foster team building.
In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) is recognizing the exceptional work and dedication of the Primary Care Diabetes Lab (PCDL) and researchers who are committed to improving access to diabetes care for patients and their families. For many of the faculty and staff who make up the PCDL, this work is deeply personal, shaped by experiences caring for or supporting loved ones affected by diabetes.
Diabetes research and care represent a major focus within the DFM. This work is driven by dedicated faculty, researchers, and staff who are advancing the field through innovative research and patient-centered care. Many of these faculty members also partner with American Diabetes Association (ADA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and curing diabetes through groundbreaking research, bold advocacy, trusted education, and meaningful connections that improve the lives of all people affected by the disease. Their impact can be seen through the many ways they engage with the ADA while helping shape the future of diabetes care.
Beyond their work with the ADA, DFM faculty are advancing diabetes care through national collaborations, educational initiatives, and groundbreaking research. Over the past seven years, Drs. Tamara and Sean Oser have led work with the American Academy of Family Physicians to expand the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in primary care. This year, those efforts grew to include Dr. Jortberg, Kristin Crispe, MPH, Stephanie Kirchner, MSPH, RD, and Jennifer Halfacre.
The team has also contributed to national diabetes education efforts through the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. As Leadership Chairs, Drs. Tamara and Sean Oser helped develop the Diabetes Technology Curriculum Program, which trains medical, nursing, pharmacy, and other healthcare professionals in diabetes technology. Dr. Jortberg also supported the initiative as a reviewer.
Their influence can also be seen in landmark research and publications. Dr. Tamara Oser recently led a New England Journal of Medicine study demonstrating the efficacy and safety of CGM for people with type 2 diabetes not using insulin, with Dr. Sean Oser and Dr. Kramer serving as co-authors.
These accomplishments represent only a small sample of the remarkable work being carried out throughout the DFM.
Left to right: Marisa Kostiuk, PhD; Elizabeth Westfeldt, BSN, RN; and Sean M. Oser, MD, MPH, CDCES at the ADA's 2026 Scientific Sessions.
When asked what role primary care plays in improving diabetes outcomes nationwide, Dr. Tamara Oser emphasized that diabetes is among the most common conditions treated in primary care, with approximately 50% of adults with type 1 diabetes and 90% of people with type 2 diabetes receiving their care in these settings.
“To ensure that evidence-based diabetes treatments and technologies reach everyone living with diabetes, we need to ensure that primary care is involved in diabetes research. This starts by including primary care patients and practices early in studies of diabetes technologies and medications to assure results are more scalable to where most people with diabetes receive their care. But it also means we need to better understand how to implement these evidence-based technologies and medications into primary care. Our Department is unique in having expertise in both clinical trial research and implementation research to be able to do this kind of crucially important work!”
Dr. Tamara Oser created the PCDL, in 2021, to expand research aimed at improving diabetes care in primary care settings and to build the Department's capacity to conduct clinical trials. As a multidisciplinary program, the PCDL brings together people living with diabetes, primary care physicians, researchers, certified diabetes care and education specialists, and pharmacists. Together, they partner with people living with diabetes and primary care practices to advance diabetes care and improve health outcomes.
Shwetan Kumar, Research Services Professional for the DFM and a member of the PCDL team, was drawn to diabetes care and research after watching both of his parents manage type 2 diabetes. When asked what he enjoys most about working with the PCDL, he shared:
As the Director of the PCDL, Dr. Tamara Oser emphasized that she works with a dream team.
“I could not do any of the work that I do without the rest of the PDCL team. Every member works incredibly hard, conducts research of the highest regulatory nature, and does a phenomenal job running all our studies. We have met or exceeded all recruitment targets, and our retention rate in studies is >90%. This is due to how wonderful my team is in their interactions with patients. They are also innovative and come up with new ways to do things that I would not have thought of. I am so thankful for each of them!”
Diabetes is a complex condition, and misconceptions about its causes and management remain common. To help set the record straight, members of the PCDL shared a few myths they frequently encounter.
Bonnie T. Jortberg, PhD, RDN, CDCES, Professor of Family Medicine at CU Anschutz and Co-Chair for the Colorado Ambulatory Partnership for Health Innovation & Research Excellence (CAMPHIRE), addresses a common misconception of sugar intake.
“People think that eating too much sugar causes diabetes! The cause of both Type 1 and 2 diabetes is much more complicated and involves genetics and other lifestyle factors, such as obesity and physical inactivity for type 2 diabetes.”
Jessica Parascando, MPH, Research Services Program Manager for the Department of Family Medicine, hopes to reduce the fear surrounding gestational diabetes.
“This time last year I was pregnant and had to take the 1-Hour Glucose Challenge Test. I remember seeing a lot of fear and false information on social media about the diagnosis of gestational diabetes and the test itself,” said Jessica. “I wish more people understood that the cause of gestational diabetes is from placental hormones that trigger insulin resistance, and not from eating too much sugar. The test was quick and simple, so I encourage more pregnant persons to highlight the importance of the test and not instill fear.”
Dr. Tamara Oser added that one of the most overlooked aspects of diabetes care is the daily effort required to manage the condition.
“Diabetes is 24/7/365. People living with diabetes see their healthcare providers for a short visit every 3-6 months. Outside of those visits, they live with the high and low blood sugars, taking medication, and in some cases insulin pump site changes or shots, the variability in what changes blood sugar, and the emotional impact day in and day out. It is a lot of work, and they can be doing their very best and still have times when they are not meeting glycemic targets!”
She added that healthcare providers can help ease some of the burden by using strengths-based, person-centered, empowering language and avoiding stigmatizing terms such as diabetic, uncontrolled, and non-adherent. Instead, providers can begin conversations by recognizing what is going well and building on patients' successes.
In the spirit of Diabetes Awareness Month, we turn to the DFM researcher’s reasons why so much of their work focuses on this disease—exploring their inspirations and motivations. While we can't feature every PCDL team member, the stories and experiences below reflect the dedication, compassion, and commitment shared across the diabetes lab. (Individuals are listed alphabetically by last name.)
“I started my nutrition career by providing diabetes education to patients in the Presbyterian/St. Lukes healthcare system. I found so much satisfaction working with patients with diabetes on how improving their diet and physical activity could improve their diabetes and health outcomes, that I decided to pursue getting my certification as a diabetes educator, now called a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). I’ve been a CDCES for over 34 years now! Also, my first position at CU Anschutz, in 1995, was as a study coordinator for the NIH-NIDDK funded Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), which was the first large scale disease prevention study ever conducted in the U.S. My experience with the DPP hooked me on diabetes research and I’m still here doing research 31 years later!”
What gives you the most hope for the future of diabetes care?
“The new diabetes technologies, like continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) are ‘game changers’ for diabetes care and are so exciting!”
Shwetan Kumar, Research Services Professional for the Department of Family Medicine
“Growing up, I watched both my parents manage type 2 diabetes, and I saw how much it shaped our family’s daily life, not just theirs. That’s what drew me to diabetes care and research. I want to help build a better understanding of this disease and make it easier for people living with it to feel in control of their health.”
What is something people would be surprised to learn about diabetes research?
“People are often surprised by how much of diabetes research is about the person, not just the numbers. Things like stress, routines, access to care, and how someone feels about their treatment all matter just as much as a lab result.”
“The first part of my career was spent as a Clinician Educator where I did inpatient and outpatient medicine, was residency faculty, taught hundreds of medical students, served as Advisor to our Family Medicine Interest Group, designed innovative curriculum and many other fun and rewarding things! Just as I was finishing my Junior Faculty Development Fellowship and getting introduced to qualitative research, my then seven-year-old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This was a devastating and life-changing diagnosis for our family, and I turned to communities of others living with type 1 diabetes for support. I learned about so many unmet needs, and it was humbling as a physician to hear ways that we were not supporting people with type 1 diabetes and their families. I wanted to help! [My partner], Sean Oser, and I had a novel idea to better understand barriers and facilitators to self-management for people and families with type 1 diabetes, applied for a NIDDK and an internal Penn State grant and received both. My career pivoted to research, and I was passionate about understanding the value of peer support and developing peer support interventions for people with diabetes. From there, I’ve continued to learn as much as I can and now conduct many kinds of research with many different funders—all working to support people living with prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, or type 2 diabetes.”
“The most rewarding part of working in diabetes care is being able to do research that directly impacts patients. I have had the great opportunity and honor to be able to do research that consists of pivotal trials—the last stage before FDA clearance and availability of new diabetes technologies to patients. I’ve been able to be part of research on the value of peer-support to people living with diabetes and their families. I’ve served as a national leader on implementing CGM into primary care practices. My most recent accomplishment—serving as Study PI on the first large-scale, multi center, randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CGM in adults with non-insulin treated type 2 diabetes that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine—was a career highlight. This data should change the ADA’s Standards of Care which should drive expanded insurance coverage for CGM to those with type 2 diabetes not using insulin.”
“I have long been passionate about research and its potential to improve patient health outcomes, a goal that is central to both my personal and professional values. My interest in diabetes research, in particular, began when my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2013. Witnessing the challenges he encountered, the impact of his diagnosis on our entire family, and his commitment to improving his health deepened my curiosity and appreciation for the complexities of diabetes management and strengthened my desire to contribute to research that can improve the lives of individuals living with diabetes.”
“There have been major advances in diabetes technology over the past few years! So many people have worked tirelessly on new opportunities for individuals with diabetes to track glucose levels, deliver insulin, and understand how nutrition and physical activity impact glycemic management. I am so grateful that I get to collaborate with passionate, hardworking team members on clinical trials evaluating diabetes devices. One of the most rewarding aspects of research is hearing directly from participants about the meaningful improvements these technologies have made in their daily lives and diabetes management. This all gives me hope for the future.”
“Having previously worked in internal medicine, I saw how common diabetes is treated in primary care… As someone who is pursuing a career as a primary care physician, I was drawn to a role where I could help explore ways to make diabetes care more effective and accessible in primary care.”
“Many immediately think of insulin-related treatments when it comes to diabetes research, but there is a surprising amount of lifestyle intervention research being done as well!”
Ben Sheneman is also optimistic about recent advancements in diabetes care and the future projects underway at the PCDL.
“I’m very excited by the increasing availability of CGMs that help patients learn more about their glucose patterns. One of our current PCDL studies is looking into how we can use an over-the-counter version of these devices to help people make informed decisions while also studying how to make them more accessible and useful in real-world clinical settings.”
While diabetes remains a significant public health challenge, the future of diabetes care is promising. Advances such as CGMs, automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, and a growing understanding of how nutrition and physical activity influence glycemic management are expanding opportunities for patients to better manage their health. Through innovative research and patient-centered care, DFM faculty, staff, and researchers are helping lead the way toward a healthier future for people living with diabetes.