Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2024 Professional Interest Networks

Our Professional Interest Network sessions run over lunchtime and give you the opportunity to connect with your peers and discuss opportunities, challenges and shared experiences.

Each session is centred around a particular specialism or work sector, helping you maximise the opportunity to make new contacts and gain learnings that you can put into practice in your workplace.

This year's meetings will run over lunchtime, Wednesday-Friday.

They are informal and interactive, with panel sessions and discussions, so please ask questions, get to know one another, and join in the conversation. The day of each session is detailed below. Find out more by clicking on the session you're interested in.

Wednesday 17th April - 13.15pm to 14.10pm 

• Diabetes Specialist Nurses
• Podiatrists
• Pharmacists 
• Basic and Clinical Research

Thursday 18th April - 13.20pm to 14.15pm

• Children and Young Adults
• Diabetes care and Eyes (Eye Professionals)
• Psychosocial 
• Dietitians
• Consultants and Registrars 

Friday 19 April - 12.55pm to 13.50pm

• Primary Care 
• Midwives and Pregnancy 

Wednesday 17th April - 13.15pm to 14.10pm  

Diabetes Specialist Nurses - Room 4

Facilitators: Martha Stewart, Birmingham and Esther Walden, Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK representative: Esther Walden
Topic: Career Progression: navigating the Highs and Lows of a Diabetes Specialist Nurse
Welcome and introductions: Martha Stewart, Birmingham and Esther Walden, Diabetes UK
Panel session: Kirstie Berman, Sussex, Debbie Voight, Tayside, Andrea Lacey, Norwich and Anwen Mai, New Quay 
Breakout group discussion. 

Podiatry - Room 3

Facilitators: Jayne Robbie, Birmingham and Debbie Sharman, Dorset
Diabetes UK representative: Helen O’Kelly
Topic: Career progression in podiatry– Challenges and Opportunities
Welcome and introduction: Jayne Robbie, Birmingham and Debbie Sharman, Dorset
Panel: Joelle Baynham, Dorset, Joanne Casey, Southampton, Jayne Robbie, Birmingham, Debbie Sharman, Dorset  and David Wylie, Glasgow
Break out discussion and networking. 

Pharmacy - Room 2 

Facilitators: Charles Odiase, Hemel Hempstead
Diabetes UK Representative: Rebecca Wynne
Welcome and introduction: Charles Odiase, Hemel Hempstead
Panel: Meena Sharma, Watford, Samina Ali, East Ayrshire, Manish Bhavsar, Watford, and Abdullah Bhana, Manchester. 
Hot Topics
•    How do we create sustainable peer support forums and networking 
•    Pharmacy team roles in improving access to technology and care processes uptake
•    Managing stock shortages safely and in the interest of people with diabetes
•    Training and education needs

Basic and clinical research - Room 1

Facilitators: Shivani Misra, London 
Diabetes UK representative: Anna Morris
Panel: Craig Beall, Exeter, Melanie Davies, Leicester, and Shivani Misra, London. 
Topic: Raising your profile and transitioning to leadership.
Breakout discussion and networking

Thursday 18th April - 13.20pm to 14.15pm

Children and Young Adults - Room 1

Facilitators: Fiona Campbell, Leeds and Charlotte Austin, Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK representative: Charlotte Austin
Topic: First year of care in children and young adults
Welcome and Introduction: Fiona Campbell, Leeds 
Panel: Sara Crowley, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Jackie Elliott, Sheffield, Amelia Trencher (Diabetes UK Young Leader), Reza Zaidi, Liverpool.
Break out discussion:    

• Type 1 Children under 16 first year of care pathway
• Type 1 young people 16-25 first year of care pathway
• Type 2 young people first year of care pathway

Diabetes care and Eyes (Eye Professionals) - Room 17

Facilitators: Simon O'Neill, Diabetes UK and Garry Tan, Oxford. 
Diabetes UK representative: Simon O'Neill
Topic: The effect on diabetic eye disease of rapid tightening of glucose control: new technologies (e.g. HCL) and new treatments
Welcome and Introduction: Simon O'Neill, Diabetes UK and Garry Tan, Oxford.
Panel: Evie Mensah, London, Peter Scanlon, Gloucestershire, Partha Kar, Portsmouth, and Roy Taylor, Newcastle.

Psychosocial - Room 3 

Facilitators: Rose Stewart, Wrexham
DUK Representative: Alex Berry
Topic: Beyond the therapy room – how do we psychologise the diabetes system?
Welcome & introduction: Dr Rose Stewart, Wrexham
Panel: Dr Jacqueline Allen, Norwich, Dr Stephen Stanaway, Wrexham, Bethany Kelly, Wiltshire, and Dr Ronda Embick, Avon
Discussion areas:
•    Introduction
•    Diabetes Psychology - to integrate or not to integrate? 
•    Is training DSNs in therapy the answer? 
•    The diabetes team’s role in T1DE recovery 
•    Visions for a holistic diabetes care system

Dietitians - Room 4

Facilitators: William Hadfield, London and Siân Rilstone, London
Diabetes UK representative: Douglas Twenefour
Topic: The role of Dietitians in tackling inequalities
Welcome and Introductions: William Hadfield, London and Siân Rilstone, London 
Panel: Salma Mehar, London, Louise Goff, Leicester and Jessie Chien, Essex.
Break out discussion. 

Consultants and Registrars - Room 14 

Facilitators: Tom Crabtree, Derby and Beenish Zaki, London
Diabetes UK representative: Alex Thomas
Welcome and Introductions: Tom Crabtree, Derby and Beenish Zaki, London
Panel: Anne DeBray, Oxford (YDEF), Alistair Lumb, Oxford (DTN), Ketan Dhatariya, Norwich (ABCD) and Barbara McGovern, London. 
Hot Topics: Workforce, technology, obesity and new pharmacotherapies.

Friday 19 April - 12.55pm to 13.50pm

Primary Care - Room 4

Facilitators: Samuel Seidu, Leicester and Nicola Milne, Manchester
Diabetes UK representative: Kate Vickers
Welcome and Introductions: Samuel Seidu, Leicester and Nicola Milne, Manchester
Topic: How do we adapt and focus the primary care workforce to deal with the growing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes; especially young Type 2 diabetes, technology, and obesity management?
Panel: Samuel Seidu, Leicester, Nicola Milne, Manchester, Anwen Mai, New Quay and Alia Gilani, Sheffield 

Midwives and Pregnancy - Room 3 

Facilitators: Claire Meek, Cambridge
Diabetes UK representative: Brenda Walcott  
Welcome and Introductions: Claire Meek Cambridge
Panel overviews: 
Hybrid closed loops in pregnancy: What does the evidence say? – Helen Murphy, Norwich 
HCLs in pregnancy: troubleshooting in inpatients and outpatient – Tara Lee, Norwich
HCLs in pregnancy: making the technology work for women during and after pregnancy – Caroline Byrne, Cambridge
HCLs in pregnancy: how can midwives support HCL use? – Cathy Campbell, Cambridge
Panel Discussion