9:00 - Opening remarks: Colette Marshall, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK 

9:10 - Opening Plenary Lecture: Bridging the inequalities in cardiometabolic care: From evidence to action

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, University of Leicester 

We are honoured to welcome Professor Kamlesh Khunti, one of the world’s leading voices in diabetes research, care delivery, and health policy.  Drawing on expertise that spans primary care, population health, and system-wide improvement, Professor Khunti will set the tone for the conference with a broad, forward-looking vision for the future of diabetes care. 

His plenary lecture will examine where inequities in diabetes care persist, and why acknowledging their existence is essential if we are to close the gaps.  He will highlight the collective responsibility of our professional communities to design services that leave no one behind, and to align our efforts with national priorities such as the Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England. 

This opening session will establish the “why and how to overcome” that underpins the next three days, preparing delegates for deeper discussion across the full spectrum of diabetes science, clinical practice, and innovation.

10:00 - Data is power: How national intelligence can drive equity and quality in diabetes care

Dr Marc Atkin, National Specialty Advisor for Diabetes, NHS England & Dr Clare Hambling, National Clinical Director for Diabetes and Obesity, NHS England

Following the opening address from Diabetes UK and the opening plenary setting out our collective ambition to tackle diabetes health inequity, this centre-stage session brings together national leadership from NHS England to explore how data and intelligence can drive meaningful improvement in diabetes (and obesity) care.

Dr Clare Hambling and Dr Marc Atkins will share an open national update on key developments in the data landscape: highlighting emerging priorities, new opportunities, and how national intelligence can better support quality improvement, reduce unwarranted variation, and strengthen equity across systems.

The session will reflect on how established frameworks and datasets can be used more purposefully in today’s policy and financial climate, shifting the focus from data collection to insight, action and impact.

This session will also signpost to related symposia, workshops and professional interest network sessions across the next three days, helping delegates navigate where deeper dives into data, quality improvement, inequalities and service transformation will continue throughout the conference.

Session title: Spotting and escalating foot infections in primary care

Panel discussion and Q&A with short presentations regarding spotting, and escalating foot infections in primary care.

10:35 - 10:45 - Triage and management of emergency foot infection in community 

Vanessa Golding, National Strategic Lead for Diabetes footcare (PIN Lead)

10:45 - 10:55 - Foot complexities in Primary care

Reena Patel, Specialist Nurse in Diabetes

10:55 - 11:05 - ACT NOW foot triage

Jayne Robbie, Specialist Podiatrist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust

11:05 - 11:25 - Panel discussion and group networking

Chair: Joelle Baynham, Consultant Podiatrist - Diabetes Inpatients, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust

Themes: Overlooked complications, underserved topics

Oral health is one of the most overlooked components of diabetes care. Yet periodontal disease and diabetes exist in a harmful bi-directional relationship, each worsening the other and contributing to increased cardiovascular risk, impaired nutrition, and reduced quality of life.

These challenges are felt most acutely in disadvantaged communities, where access to dental services is limited, food insecurity is common, and inequalities in diabetes outcomes are already stark. For many people living with diabetes, poor oral health is not simply a dental issue, but a barrier to effective self-management, healthy eating, and overall wellbeing.

This session, led by the IDEAL Diabetes collaboration, will explore why oral health remains a missing piece in diabetes care pathways and how under-recognition contributes to avoidable harm. Using data on inequities in access to dental and nutritional services, alongside real-world patient journeys, the speakers will illustrate how oral health, diet, deprivation and diabetes complications intersect in everyday clinical practice.

Through perspectives from dentistry, diabetes care and lived experience, the session will highlight where current NHS pathways fail to join up, and how simple, team-based actions can begin to close these gaps.

11:30 - The current evidence base: understanding the intersection between oral health, diabetes inequity, and clinical outcomes.

Dr Zehra Yonel, Clinical Lecturer - Restorative Dentistry, University of Birmingham

11:40 - Where dental care fits within existing NHS diabetes pathways, and opportunities for better integration.

John Grumitt, Chair, IDEAL CIC & Ambassador, Diabetes UK & Person with type 1 diabetes lived experience

11:50 - A real-world lived experience of navigating NHS dental services at times of need while living with diabetes.

Dr Dominika Antoniszczak, Dentist with special interest in Periodontics and Diabetes & Founder, Periodontitis-Diabetes Hub & Person with type 1 diabetes lived experience

12:00 - Panel discussion and Q&A

Chairs: Dr Stephen Lawrence, Associate Clinical Professor in Diabetes, Warwick Medical School & GP

People living with diabetes who experience inequity in care are often those who face the greatest barriers to accessing healthcare. When engagement with services does occur, it may be brief or fragmented - meaning the window of opportunity to make a meaningful difference can be limited and must not be lost.

This places a responsibility on healthcare systems and professionals to ensure that every clinical encounter counts. “Getting it right first time” is not only about clinical decision-making, but about designing services, pathways, and environments that recognise disadvantage, reduce friction, and actively support engagement - particularly for those least able to navigate complex systems.

In this session, Prof Gerry Rayman, GIRFT Clinical Lead for Adult Diabetes Care, and Dr Fulya Mehta, National Speciality Advisor for Children and Young Adults, NHS England, will outline current and upcoming GIRFT diabetes initiatives across the life course. They will highlight how GIRFT’s work complements the strategic priorities of Diabetes UK and other national stakeholders, and how coordinated, system-level action can help level the quality of diabetes care - so that no opportunity for impact is missed, and no one is left behind.

11:30 - 11:50 - GIRFT Diabetes initiatives - adults

Professor Gerry Rayman, Consultant Diabetologist, Diabetes and Endocrine Centre, Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust

11:50 - 12:10 - GIRFT Diabetes initatives - children & young adult

Dr Fulya Mehta, National Speciality Advisor for Children and Young Adults, NHS England

Chair: TBC

Themes: Healthcare inequity

Specialisms: Community care and Specialist care

The symposium will open with two clinical case scenarios illustrating how unequal diabetes care plays out in real-world practice. There will be strong interaction between panel speakers and active engagement with delegates. The focus will be on solutions, framed around Diabetes UK’s latest strategy.

Themes: Youth, mental health

Specialisms: Specialist care and Primary Care

Integrating diabetes care into mental health settings, including managing high-risk cases.

13:25 - Introduction to mental health and high risk diabetes

Dr Christopher Garrett, Consultant in diabetes psychiatry, Bart's Health and East London Foundation Trust 

13:40 - Diabetes and Mental Health: Breaking the Cycle in Lothian

Catriona Howes, Consultant liaison psychiatrist, Western General Hospital in Edinburgh

13:50 - Recurrent DKA: using mental health law

Dr Fareed Oomer, ST6 Psychiatry trainee, Bart's Health and East London Foundation Trust 

14:00 - Recurrent DKA: should we try HCL for this? 

Dr Finola Cullenbrooke, ST6, Psychiatry, Bart's Health and East London Foundation Trust 

14:10 - 14:20 - TBC

Kirsty MacLennan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

14:20 - 14:25 - Q&A

Chairs: Claire Meek, Professor of Chemical Pathology & Diabetes in Pregnancy, University of Leicester & Ken Ong, Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, University of Cambridge

Themes: Diabetes & pregnancy

Specialisms: Clinical science and Specialist care

To summarise the latest research about optimal postnatal care in women with diabetes.

Talk 1 - Breastfeeding interventions in women with diabetes

Sarah Dib, Post-doctoral researcher, University of Leicester

Talk 2 - T2D and CVD after GDM: what are the risks?

Erica P Gunderson PhD, MPH, Professor, Department of Health and Systems Science, Kaiser Permanete Bernard J.Tyson School of Medicine

Talk 3 - Lifestyle interventions for prevention of future GDM and T2DM

Shakila Thanagaratinam, Professor of Women's Health, University of Liverpool

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Tech, ethics

- Get ready to use your phones in this interactive exploration of AI in diabetes nutrition

- Practical demonstrations of AI tools currently available for dietitians and diabetes specialists

- Evaluate AI as a friend, foe, or the future of nutrition care through live examples

- Build confidence in safely integrating AI technology into everyday clinical practice

Speakers

Dr Duane Mellor, Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Dietitian, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

TBC

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Complications, foot, MDT systems of care

Specialisms: Community care, Specialist care, Primary care

Short specialist MDT presentations then interactive panel discussion of challenges in managing infection across the healthcare environment to incorporate primary secondary care and microbiology, diabetes and vascular surgery.

Talk 1 - Overview of infection challenge FD UK / Wounds UK consensus document 

Professor Mike Edmonds, Consultant Diabetologist

Talk 2 - Diabetes inpatients - challenges in acute care front door emergencies and triage 

Joelle Baynham, Consultant Podiatrist

Talk 3 - Sole searching: Navigating antibiotic choices in the face of resistance 

Harriet Launders, Anti-Infectives Pharmacist

Panel discussion & Q&A

Theme: Career development

Specialism: Community care

Everyone in the diabetes community benefits if early career researchers and clinicians are able to fulfil their potential. This session will support academics and clinicians to consider barriers and enablers of diabetes careers for diverse groups.

13:25 - Supporting talented people from diverse ethnic groups: how can we do better?

Bernadette Adeyileka-Tracz , CEO, Diabetes Africa

13:45 - Neurodiversity and diabetes careers: how can we do better?

Almuth McDowall, Professor of Organisational Psychology , Birbeck University of London

14:05 - Building a healthy research culture: what are we aiming for?

Liz Simmonds, Head of Research Culture, University of Cambridge

Thematic area: Health inequalities & equity 

Theme: Technology & innovation

Specialisms: Clinical science, Community care, Specialist care and Primary care

In this session, the chief investigators of the UK-based FreeDM2 randomised controlled trial will present the latest clinical outcomes on the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in people living with type 2 diabetes, building on insights from the landmark FLASH-UK study.

Speakers will focus on the core gluco-metabolic outcomes of FreeDM2, including HbA1c, CGM metrics, and therapy changes, and discuss their implications for future diabetes care strategy. The session will set the scene for the conference’s wider exploration of equity, opening discussion on how access to diabetes technologies might be more effectively levelled across both type 2 and type 1 diabetes populations.

14:35 - Introduction

Professor Pratik Choudhary, Professor in Diabetes, University of Leicester & Honorary Consultant in Diabetes, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (Chair)

14:40 - Study design, rationale and baseline data

Dr Lalantha Leelarathna, Clinical Associate Professor, Imperial College School of Medicine & Consultant in Diabetes, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

14:50 - HbA1c (primary outcome) - CGM metrics and therapy changes

Dr Emma Wilmot, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham & Honorary Consultant Diabetologist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

15:00 - Cost-effectiveness analysis

Professor Rachel Elliott, Professor in Health Economist, University of Manchester

15:10 - Discussion and Q&A

This session draws on the newly published DIAMOND trial, a cluster randomised study across 99 GP practices in England, investigating a low-energy, low-carbohydrate diet for diabetes remission. Alongside discussion of trial’s results and clinical implications, this session will consider how the programme was developed, and share first-hand perspectives from the practitioners who delivered the intervention and the patients who took part, offering insights into acceptability and translation into real-world delivery.

Introduction

Professor Susan Jebb, University of Oxford

14:35 - 14:50 - Findings from the DIAMOND trial

Dr Jadine Scragg, Senior Researcher, University of Oxford

14:50 - 14:55 - Development of the DIAMOND programme

Dr Elizabeth Morris, University of Oxford

14:55 - 15:00 - Understanding the experiences of the health care professionals and patients

Dr Elizabeth Morris, University of Oxford

15:00 - 15:15 - Discussion and Q&A

Professor Susan Jebb, University of Oxford

40 min

The Integrated Career and Competency Framework for Adult Diabetes Nursing has shaped diabetes specialist nursing practice for over two decades. As diabetes technologies and automated insulin delivery systems become embedded in routine care, the framework has been expanded to support nurses across community, primary, secondary, and inpatient settings. This Professional Interest Network session will explore how early-career diabetes specialist nurses can use the updated framework to build confidence, competence, and career development in an evolving clinical landscape.

Key learning points / take-home messages

1. How the updated competency framework supports early-career diabetes specialist nurses in maintaining safe, confident, and contemporary practice.

2. Understanding the new diabetes technologies competency, including automated insulin delivery systems and their application across care settings.

3. Using the framework to support career progression, professional development, and workforce readiness.

4. Preparing the diabetes nursing community for the next phase of diabetes care and population need.

Themes: T1D Tech, inequality

This symposium will explore how diabetes technology can be delivered more equitably and effectively for people living with type 1 diabetes. Drawing on clinical and psychiatric expertise, speakers will discuss the subtleties of individualising pathways to closed-loop care.

The session will also examine real-world adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and closed-loop technologies, including how clinicians assess safety and accuracy when people present with commercially available devices. It provides the context for a linked interactive workshop the following day (G5 – Confidence with diabetes technology: clinical safety and care pathways), where highly complex case examples will be explored to build confidence in safer, person-centred technology access.

Talk 1 - TBC

Professor Alistair Lumb, Consultant in Diabetes, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Chair, Diabetes Technology Network-UK

Talk 2 - The importance of CGM choice and accuracy

Dr Emma Wilmot, Associate Professor and Honorary Consultant Diabetologist, University of Nottingham and University Hospitals of Derby and Burton

Talk 3 - TBC

Dr Peter Jacobs, Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Barts Health NHS Trust

Talk 4 - TBC

Dr Chris Garrett, Consultant in Diabetes Psychiatry, Barts Health NHS Trust & East London NHS Foundation Trust

Themes: Research & discovery

Highlighting three recent areas of cutting-edge world-leading diabetes breakthroughs from UK-based basic and clinical researchers. Includes basic and clinical obesity research as well as personalisation of glucose-lowering therapy.

16:15 - Obesity and overweight in type 1 diabetes: Impact of new technologies and drugs

Professor Helen Colhoun, AXA Chair of Medical Informatics and Life Course Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh 

16:35 - The hidden benefits of weight loss on fat tissues

Dr William Scott, Welcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellow, Institute of Clincial Science, Imperial College London

16:55 - Advancing personalised treatment selection in type 2 diabetes: refinements to the Exeter 5-drug model

Pedro Cardoso, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, University of Exeter Medical School

9:00 - 9:25 - Diabetes UK Nursing and Allied Healthcare Professional Diabetes Research Award

9:35 - 10:00 - Diabetes UK Primary Care Award

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Neurodiversity, social care

With the increasing recognition and diagnosis of neurodiversity and more and more young people and adults with learning difficulties being supported to live independently, how can the diabetes healthcare community ensure equity of access to care and good outcomes?

Laurence Taggart has been working with focus groups of people with learning difficulties and diabetes to discover what is important for them and will share that information with the conference, giving insights in what we can do now and in the future to model services to meet their needs. Alison Holloway has many years' experience of working with young people with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) and who are neurodivergent and will explain how that can impact on their ability to manage their diabetes plus give practical tips on how best to support them.

16:15 - What adults with intellectual disability and their carers tell us about diabetes care in the UK.

Professor Laurence Taggart, Professor of Implementation Science, Queen's University Belfast

16:35 - Supporting neurodivergence in diabetes care: Clinical Implications, adaptations and practical strategies

Alison Holloway, Specialist Diabetes Dietitians, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

Thematic area: Narrative, person-centred

Theme: Psychology & wellbeing in diabetes care, diabetes lived experience

Specialism: Community care, Specialist care, Paediatrics and Primary care

An interactive session with young people from the Together Type 1 team, giving an insight on the challenges of managing diabetes as a young adult, along with examples of effective working relationships with HCP and suggestions for how things can be improved in the future.

Themes: Policy, quality improvement

- State of the Diabetes Nation from pre conception to the elderly frail population.

- Compare service delivery across the UK discussing variation of care delivery from primary care, paediatrics, young adults and secondary care services.

- Review the increase burden of meeting all care processes and providing access to technology and newer agents.

Themes: Complications, obesity, weight management, metabolic health

- Reviewing the latest evidence for weight loss surgery

- The role of weight loss surgery in diabetes care

- Debating the most effective treatments for diabetes and weight management

- The role of the bariatric surgeon in the diabetes MDT team

17:25 - Chairs opening remarks: 

Professor Ahmad Moolla, Visiting Professor & Consultant Physician, Royal Free NHS

17:27 - A summary of the latest evidence for bariatric surgery in people living with diabetes and how to present findings to patients

Professor Jane Blazeby, Professor of Surgery, University of Bristol and Honorary Consultant Surgeon, University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

17:41 - What is the evolving role of the bariatric surgeon and weight loss surgery as part of future multidisciplinary team services for diabetes care?

Ahmed Ahmed, Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Professor in Metabolic Surgery

17:55 - Why early large scale weight loss may be the future of diabetes care

Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine & Honorary Consultant Physician

18:09 - Discussion and Q&A

The session will cover the most recent new evidence on how the brain controls food intake and energy expenditure.

Themes: Inequalities, community engagement, service design, primary care

Talk 1 - Sensory regulation of metabolism

Sophie Steculorum, Prinicpal Invesitgator, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research

Talk 2 - New Insights into the Brain Control of Appetite and Obesity

Professor Lora Heisler, Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Aberdeen

Talk 3 - Sympathetic Neurobiology in Obesity

Professor Ana Domingos, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Oxford

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Clinical care & diagnosis, health inequalities, psychosocial impact

Specialisms: Clinical science, Community care, Specialist care, Paediatrics and Primary care

This workshop will cover the practical aspects of diabetes classification with an overview of the EASD/ADA consensus pathway for classification. It will showcase data from a novel prospective study of diabetes classification and include case based discussion on unusual presentations across different age groups, ethnicities and aetiologies.

5:25 - Chair's introduction

5:30 - Improving classification and treatment in newly diagnosed adult-onset diabetes: lessons from the StartRight Study

Professor Angus Jones, University of Exeter and Honorary Consultant Physician, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

5:45 - Case studies to highlight the impact of ethnicity on classification

Dr Shivani Misra, Consultant Physician, Associate Professor and Head of Section Metabolic Medicine Imperial College London

6:00 - The EASD-ADA Management of type 1 diabetes in adults consensus report: differentiating type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes or monogenic diabetes

Richard Holt, Professor in diabetes and endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton