Diabetes uk professional conference 2026 highlights

In 2026, the Diabetes UK Professional Conference brought more than 2,400 delegates together in Liverpool for three days of focused learning, discussion and connection.

From the first keynote to the final session, the conference gave healthcare professionals, researchers and scientists time to explore the developments shaping diabetes care. Sessions covered the latest clinical insights and research, including new technologies, treatment approaches, health inequalities, pregnancy, kidney disease and type 1 diabetes screening.

Across the Poster Hub, Professional Interest Networks and a memorable conference dinner at Titanic Hotel Liverpool, diabetes professionals shared what is working in practice and heard how others are approaching similar challenges.

Relive key moments from the event and explore the day-by-day highlights below.

day one highlights

• Setting the agenda: Colette Marshall, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK, opened the conference by outlining the Diabetes UK strategy and reminding us how we support professionals and the 12 million people living with or at risk of diabetes.

• Tackling inequity: From here, Professor Kamlesh Khunti, University of Leicester, and NHS England leaders set an equity-focused tone for the rest of the conference - calling out the need to confront persistent health inequities as a necessary step towards meaningful change and showing the power of national data to enable higher-quality, more equitable care, stating that "where you are born, what you earn and your ethnicity determines how long and how well you live". He challenged us to ensure innovations do not widen these inequalities.

• Arnold Bloom Named Lecture: Professor Partha Kar delivered the prestigious Arnold Bloom Named Lecture, reflecting on a transformative decade driving system change at NHS England, embedding technology in type 1 diabetes care, and the people who were pivotal to helping make this journey happen. 

• Harry Keen Rank Nutrition Named Lecture: In the Harry Keen Rank Nutrition Named Lecture, Professor Claire Meek, University of Leicester, shared a groundbreaking body of research evidence that is redefining how we manage nutrition in diabetes in pregnancy to improve outcomes for mums and their babies. Claire talked about her research that’s pioneering our understanding of the causes and consequences of pregnancy and diabetes of all types. She also highlighted the importance of researchers – in Harry Keen’s words – “developing an experimental cast of mind.” 

• Tackling gestational diabetes stigma: New research from King’s College London revealed that more than half of women with gestational diabetes experience stigma, from healthcare professionals, family, friends, and wider society during pregnancy - and beyond. Researchers called for targeted anti-stigma interventions and structured emotional support for women with GDM. 

• FreeDM2 trial results: The FreeDM2 trial team addressed a key evidence gap. Results show CGM led to substantial improvements in glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes using basal insulin. Presented alongside a health economic evaluation, the researchers say the findings support widening access for people with type 2. 

• The power of connection: Taking on a new, more interactive format, our Professional Interest Networks across footcare, basic and clinical research, eye health and early-career DSNs provided a fantastic space to contribute and get involved like never before. These sessions offered the perfect setting to share experiences and plan how to tackle our collective challenges together.

• The DIAMOND trial: Researchers from the DIAMOND trial at University of Oxford outlined the evidence behind low-carbohydrate diets for people with type 2 diabetes, and how the trial is delivering high-quality UK evidence on the use of low-carb interventions for remission. 

• Driving UK science breakthroughs: Leading researchers from Edinburgh, London, and Exeter showcased the pivotal role of UK science in driving breakthroughs, from innovations in weight management in type 1 diabetes, to understanding the benefits of weight loss at a metabolic level, and advances from the 5-drug model to drive the new era of personalised type 2 treatments. 

• Championing the 4Ts: Over on the Diabetes UK stand John Story shared an inspiring message. He urged the passionate professionals here to build an army to champion the 4Ts and remind colleagues to "test, don't guess".

• Integrating oral health: The link between oral health and diabetes runs both ways, yet it is still too often missing from joined‑up care. In session A2 – Oral health and diabetes: the forgotten two‑way street – a multidisciplinary team explored how to change that in practice. Chaired by John Grumitt, the session opened with two short role‑play scenarios from GP Stephen Lawrence and dentist Dr Dominika Antoniszczak, contrasting a broken GP–dentist referral pathway with a better one. Dr Zehra Yonel then reviewed the evidence on periodontal disease, glycaemic control and inequality, while dental hygienist Tara West highlighted where communication and care pathways break down. The session closed with IDEAL Diabetes’ free Smile Now! resources, building on Act Now! to support truly integrated dentistry and diabetes care. Click here to access these. IDEAL are also interested in working with professional groups to build awareness and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.

day two highlights

• Navigating driving regulations: Experts clarified the legal requirement that people with diabetes must wait 45 minutes after their sensor reports a glucose level over 5mmol/l following a low glucose event before driving. The session also addressed inconsistencies in advice regarding Gold scores, noting that while individuals scoring 6 or 7 should not drive, those scoring 4 or 5 are sometimes incorrectly being advised against it. To help ensure consistent advice across the UK we encourage you to review and share the DVLA's INF 294 guidance here. 

• Mary MacKinnon Named Lecture: Professor Samuel Seidu explored Mary MacKinnon’s legacy through the Leicester Model of Diabetes Care, demonstrating how integrated, primary-care-led networks improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and empower patients. Co-designed with patients and supported by the EDEN education programme, the session highlighted how collaboration, education and compassion can transform diabetes management and honour MacKinnon’s vision of equitable, community-centred healthcare.

• Advances in type 1 diabetes screening: The latest findings on type 1 diabetes screening were shared, with updates from studies screening children and adults and emerging NHS care pathways. With prevention drawing closer, sessions focused on who to screen, how screening should work and how best to support people with positive autoantibodies.

• Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge: The scale of progress through the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge was on full display, powered by the Steve Morgan Foundation’s £50 million investment. Several years into the programme, researchers showcased advances in regenerating and protecting beta cells, preventing immune destruction and developing smarter, next-generation insulins - with curative approaches firmly in sight.

• Tackling early-onset type 2 diabetes: Early-onset type 2 diabetes took centre stage, with sessions highlighting health inequities, the risk of misclassification and the importance of acting early.

• Early Career Investigator Awards: The Early Career Investigator Awards celebrated outstanding basic and clinical science presentations from emerging researchers. The session highlighted the depth of talent coming through the pipeline and why continued investment in early career researchers is essential to the future of diabetes discovery.

• Co-design in action: Co-design in action was showcased in an interactive session introducing Diabetes UK’s emerging Co-production Guide for Healthcare Professionals and Researchers. Facilitated by members of the Community Organisation Advisory Committee and the Diabetes Lived Experience Advisory Committee, the discussion explored what meaningful partnership looks like in practice and how collaboration can shape better research and services for the diabetes community.

• Spotlight on diabetic kidney disease: Diabetic kidney disease came into sharp focus, with sessions spotlighting the state of the art in early identification and strategies to slow disease progression. Speakers examined how earlier detection could reduce the risk of end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular complications, alongside debate on the role of technology in supporting people with diabetes on renal replacement therapy. If you’d like to learn more about maintaining kidney health and diagnosing kidney disease in people living with diabetes, take a look at our Kidney Health and Kidney Disease mini-modules, co-created with Kidney Research UK (stand G3).

• Insights into muscle wasting: Researchers at the University of Exeter shared new insights into muscle wasting in diabetes, a growing problem made worse by insulin resistance and weight-loss therapies. The session explored why people lose muscle and strength, highlighting how fat build-up in muscle combined with low physical activity can further reduce the body’s response to insulin. Researchers also pointed to emerging ways to protect muscle, from improving metabolism to promising new mitochondria-targeted approaches with relevance across diabetes and obesity.

• Tackling nutrition inequalities: Dr Stephen Lawrence and Charlotte Cockman shared their insights on nutrition inequalities in diabetes, likening the challenges many people face when eating healthily to pushing a boulder uphill. With healthier foods being more than twice as expensive as unhealthy options and some neighbourhoods being food deserts or ‘swamps’ with high concentrations of takeaway outlets, both individual and population-level interventions are needed to improve our diets. The session also focused on ways to improve consultations by altering the questions asked and focusing on one achievable change that the patient can implement.

• Diabetes UK stand takeovers: On our Diabetes UK stand we had more fantastic takeovers. We first discussed how we are involving people with lived experience in our work and how their voices are so important to help us drive change. We then had our National Diabetes Audit (NDA) takeover, focusing on the recent data and reports to drive changes and improve the quality of services and health outcomes for people with diabetes. Finally we ended our takeovers by updating you on our work through our Community Organisation Advisory Committee (COAC), which will guide and drive our work with under-served communities. More details on COAC can be found here.

day three highlights

• RD Lawrence Named Lecture: Professor Sarah Finer’s RD Lawrence Lecture took us on a powerful and personal journey, exploring her commitment to inclusive research, the landmark diverse genetic studies she has led and the discoveries they’ve enabled. She highlighted evidence showing that genetic variants common in Black and South Asian men can make HbA1c an inaccurate diagnostic tool, underscoring how research grounded in diverse teams, populations and patient involvement drives meaningful impact that can help to understand and address health inequities.

• Translating research into reality: A session hosted by the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge offered expert perspectives across the research translational and commercialisation pathway. Speakers shared practical insights to support innovators in turning scientific discoveries into real‑world impact for people with diabetes.

• Tackling diabetes distress: The D‑stress study team shared how they helped shape the 2026 EASD Clinical Guidelines on diabetes distress. The session was grounded by lived‑experience perspectives, bringing home what diabetes distress means for those affected and the need for interventions to identify, prevent and reduce it.

• Spotlight on bone health: A session on bone health brought together basic and clinical research to spotlight often‑overlooked complications of diabetes. Speakers highlighted how earlier recognition, improved risk assessment and integrated care approaches could prevent fractures and play a critical role in reducing health inequalities.

• Celebrating our poster presenters: With over 400 peer-reviewed posters at the conference, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved. The Poster Hub was a vibrant space throughout the week, filled with thoughtful discussion, while our dedicated abstract sessions offered a valuable platform to explore the breadth and depth of research and work across the community. Today’s awards ceremony was a particular highlight of the conference and we offer our huge congratulations to all winners, runners-up and those that took part.

• Leadership in challenging times: We concluded the conference by reflecting on leadership in a time of challenge, exploring how values, behaviours and organisational structures can adapt to financial pressures, workforce shortages and increasing demand across the diabetes care pathway. Each speaker brought a distinctive perspective, enriched by audience interaction, leaving us with practical ideas and actions we can take back to our different settings as we move forward into next week.

• Looking ahead to 2027: In case you missed it we have announced our dates for next year! Join us at Exhibition Centre Liverpool from 20 to 22 April 2027. You can register your interest using the link below to be the first to hear about early-bird tickets, speaker announcements and programme updates.