Klemen Dovč

Full Citation: Bombaci B, Hropot T, Bratina N, et al. Daily Carbohydrate Entries and Glycemic Outcomes Following Automated Insulin Delivery System Initiation in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: A Real-World Multinational Longitudinal Study. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(8):1434-1437.

I have always been curious about how things work, but I also wanted a profession where knowledge could be translated directly into meaningful impact on people’s lives. Medicine offers that rare combination – rigorous science combined with very personal responsibility.

Klemen Dovč, MD, PhD, is a consultant in pediatric endocrinology at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, University Children’s Hospital, and an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. 

Dr. Dovč’s professional work combines hands-on patient care, clinical research, teaching and international collaboration, with a strong focus on improving everyday life for children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes.

In addition to his clinical and academic roles, Dr. Dovč is actively engaged in international diabetes communities. He has co-authored sections of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines and is currently appointed as an Associate Editor for the next edition. He is also closely involved with patient advocacy, volunteering with the Slovenian pediatric diabetes association "Sladkorčki", where they organize regular educational activities and annual summer camp for children with type 1 diabetes. Across all these roles, his work is guided by the goal of making complex diabetes care safer, simpler and less burdensome for children and their families through structured education and the use of modern technology.

Understanding Behavior–Technology Interaction in Automated Insulin Delivery

The awarded research addresses a critical and often overlooked aspect of automated insulin delivery (AID) systems: the interaction between advanced technology and everyday human behavior. While AID systems represent one of the most important advances in type 1 diabetes care – continuously adjusting insulin delivery based on glucose sensor data – their effectiveness in real life depends not only on algorithms, but also on how users interact with them.

This large, real-world, multinational longitudinal study demonstrated a clear and clinically meaningful association between variability in daily carbohydrate (CHO) intake entries and key glycemic outcomes, including time in range and time in tight range, in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes using AID systems. The findings show that greater variability in daily carbohydrate entries is linked to less favorable glycemic outcomes, highlighting that even in highly automated systems, consistent user routines remain essential.

By shifting the focus beyond technical performance alone, this research advances understanding of how behavioral factors influence AID system effectiveness. These results have direct clinical relevance, underscoring the importance of structured education around consistent pre-meal bolusing and accurate carbohydrate entry. The study provides evidence that can guide individual and family counseling, support targeted educational interventions and inform future improvements in AID system design, including the development of algorithms more resilient to real-world variability.

Ultimately, the work reinforces that technology and personalized education must go hand in hand to achieve optimal outcomes in pediatric type 1 diabetes care.

Commitment to Meaningful, Team-Based Pediatric Care

Dr. Dovč chose medicine because it offered a unique combination of rigorous science and the opportunity to translate knowledge into meaningful impact on people’s lives. During his training, pediatrics – and particularly diabetes care – stood out as a field that allows long-term relationships with children and families, built on trust, continuity and shared problem-solving. He was drawn to type 1 diabetes by the constant decision-making it demands and by the potential of the right support, education, and technology to profoundly improve quality of life.

For him, research is a natural extension of clinical care. Daily work with children and families living with type 1 diabetes continuously reveals areas where care could be safer, simpler or more effective. Research offers a structured way to address these challenges and transform clinical questions into evidence that benefits not only individual patients, but entire communities. He emphasizes that a supportive research environment is essential and values the collaborative spirit of his colleagues, mentors and international partners.

Outside of work, he finds balance and energy in spending time with his family which provides perspective in a demanding profession. Physical activity, including running, cycling, hiking and outdoor time with his family, helps him maintain focus and clarity. Music also remains an important part of his life, offering a creative counterbalance to his professional responsibilities.

Being selected as a finalist for the International Medis Awards is both an honor and a responsibility for Dr. Dovč. It represents recognition of years of clinical work, research and collaboration, while also reflecting the collective effort of the teams, colleagues and families involved. Above all, it motivates him to continue advancing evidence-based, patient-centered care that helps children with type 1 diabetes live fuller, more independent lives.