conference programme

Opening remarks: Colette Marshall, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK 

Opening Plenary Lecture: 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.

Themes: Overlooked complications, underserved topics

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 - Lothian DKA pathway and case vignette

Catriona Howes

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 

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 - Lifestyle interventions for prevention of future GDM and T2DM

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

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Tech, ethics

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 - TBC

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

Themes: T1D Tech, inequality

Themes: Research & discovery

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 

Themes: Narrative, person-centred

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

Themes: T1D immunology & immunotheraphy, population & health economics

Themes: Life-course, women's health

Specialisms: Specialist care and Primary care

The session will address diabetes and menopause, highlighting symptom management, cardiovascular risk, hormone therapy, and sex-specific differences in diagnosis and care.

9:35 - Diabetes and menopause: symptoms, cardiovascular risk, hormone therapy, and related challenges.

Dr Itunu Johnson-Sogbetun, UK based portfolio GP (Consultant in Family Medicine)

9:55 - Sex-specific differences in diagnosis

Louise Cooper, PhD candidate, MRC Epidemology Unit, University of Cambridge

10:10 - Sex and gender- specific differences

Dr Marina Politis, Academic Foundation Doctor, Newcastle

10:25 - Q&A

Chairs: Dr Kriss Owen, GP Partner and GP Clinical Lead for Diabetes, Derby and Derbyshire and Dr Danielle Adewusi, Medical Doctor, Founder of Scrub The Stigma

Themes: Complications, health inequality

- different ethnic perspectives on diabetes and cardiometabolic disease

- appreciating that different ethnicities may have different diseases trajectories

- appreciating that there are nuances and knowledge gaps when considering diabetes and ethnicity

9:35 - In people of African-Caribbean and African-American background?

Professor Janaka Karalliedde, Professor of Diabetes & Consultant Physician in Diabetes and Endocrinology

9:50 - Talk 2 - In people from a South East and East Asian background?

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

10:05 - In people from a South Asian background?

Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine & Honorary Consultant

10:20 - Discussion and Q&A

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Overlooked complications, health inequality, women's health

INTERACTIVE

Specialisms: Community care and Primary care

Theme: Career development

Themes: Young adults, paediatrics, health inequality

Specialisms: Basic science, clinical science and specialist care

Dedicated to young-onset type 2 diabetes in the context of health and research inequity.

Themes: Basic science, clinical science

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Psychosocial, body image, complications

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Health policy & commissioning, health inequality, cross-disciplinary service integration

- Discuss challenges in sharing resource

- Discuss priorities in providing diabetes care

- Review if the funding is shared appropriately, ie Primary/community secondary care along with medication and increase cost of technology

Specialisms: Community care, Specialist care & Primary care

Themes: Complications, renal

Specialisms: Specialist care

This session will cover:

1. What is the state of the art in early detection of diabetic kidney disease?

2. How can we prevent progression to end stage kidney disease and reduce risk of cardiovascular complications?

3. Does technology help in the management of people with diabetes on renal replacement therapy?

15:00 - Early detection and management of DKD: state of the art

Dr Janaka Karalliedde, Consultant in Diabetes, Guys and St Thomas's Hospital, London

15:25 - Diabetes and renal replacement therapy: can technology help?

Dr Parizad Avari, Consultant Diabetologist, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, London

15:50 - 16:00 - Q&A

Chair: Tahseen A. Chowdhury, Consultant in Diabetes, The Royal London Hospital

Themes: Policy, systems, green NHS

Themes: Social determinants, inequalities

- Real-world storytelling contextualises the diabetes journey within communities experiencing health inequalities

- Clinical case studies explore diabetes and dental health connections to diabetes outcomes

- Practical guidance for healthcare professionals on working with patients facing food poverty

- Holistic session bridging lived experience, evidence, and actionable strategies for equitable diabetes care

Themes: Research strategy 

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Person-centred, underserved topics

Specialisms: Specialist care and Primary care

The session will explore sexual health in men and women, addressing common challenges such as sexual dysfunction, vaginismus, and dyspareunia, alongside the impact of diabetes. It will also consider sexual satisfaction, type 1 diabetes, and the influence of cultural barriers on care and outcomes.

15:00 - Male sexual health

Dr Steve Jackson, Consultant Physician and Chief Medical Information Officer, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust & Professor Samuel Seidu, Professor in Primary Care Diabetes and Cardio-Metabolic Medicine, Leicester Diabetes Centre & GP Partner

15:20 - Women's health

Dr Danielle Adewusi, Medical Doctor, Founder of Scrub The Stigma

15:40 - Sexual function in women with T1D

Rahab Hashim, Advanced Diabetes Nurse Practitioner and Diabetes Researcher 

15:50 - Q&A

Chairs: Dr Jolyon Dales, Consultant Diabetologist, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust & Reena Patel, DSN, Leicester

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Education, health inequalities

Themes: Diabetes & pregnancy

Specialisms: Clinical science and Specialist care

In line with a Diabetes UK priority, to raise awareness of missed diagnoses, and the potential effects upon stillbirth and other complications.

17:00 - What is the best strategy for diagnosis of GDM?

Camile Powe, Endocrinologist

17:15 - How many cases of gestational diabetes are we missing?

Claire Meek, Professor of Chemical Pathology and Diabetes in pregnancy, University of Leicester

17:30 - Talk TBC

17:45 - Q&A

Chair: Claire Meek, Professor of Chemical Pathology and Diabetes in pregnancy, University of Leicester

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

Themes: Young adults, type 1 diabetes

INTERACTIVE

Themes: Inpatient care, tech

Specialisms: Community care, Specialist care, Primary care

Symposium with panel to highlight foot care inequalities in hardest hit communities.

9:00 - Outcomes of root cause analysis in unexpected major amputation in Dorset 

Joelle Baynham, Consultant Podiatrist - Diabetes Inpatients and NMP Lead, Bournemouth

9:10 - Social inequality in diabetes

Professor Brian Kennon, Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology, Glasgow

9:20 - Inequality paper and rural coastal communities

Dr Aoife Slattery, Inequality and Engagement Lead, DUK

9:30 - ZAPP amputation strategy

Jayne Robbie, Specialist Podiatrist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust

9:40 - Panel discussion & Q&A

INTERACTIVE

In this session, Professor Jeremy Turner and Professor Duncan Bassett will explore the underdiagnosis of bone health issues in people with diabetes, particularly within deprived and minoritized communities. The session expands the concept of diabetes complications beyond traditional models, drawing on data across laboratory, translational, and real-world clinical settings. Together, the speakers will highlight the importance of recognising bone health as a core component of equity-focused diabetes care and population health strategies.

9:00am - Professor Jeremy Turner, Consultant endocrinologist, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

9:20am - Professor Duncan Bassett, Consultant endocrinologist, Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine

9:40am - Interactive discussion

INTERACTIVE

Specialisms: Community care, Specialist care, Paediatrics, Primary care

This interactive workshop will focus on:

• Avoiding stigmatising language during consultations

• The importance of using appropriate language when delivering a diabetes diagnosis

• Supporting self-management

• Highlight the education through your Type 1 Hero comic books and VR.

The important topic of caring for older adults with type 1 diabetes is strikingly absent from current NICE guidance and most national frameworks. This symposium will bring together three speakers with extensive clinical and research experience in this area. This issue will be highlighted by an older adult with type 1 diabetes who will share their experience. If you work in primary, secondary or community care, and believe that nobody with diabetes should be left behind, then this symposium will inspire and equip you to ensure the older adults you work with can age well with type 1 diabetes.

13:25 - Chair's opening remarks

13:29 - The intricate relationship between type 1 diabetes, ageing and frailty  

Dr Giuseppe Maltese, Consultant in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Diabetic Medicine, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals 

13:41 - Frailty and glucose variability in type 1 diabetes

Dr Jonathan Golding, Specialist registrar, University Hospitals Sussex 

13:53 - Integration of secondary care and community specialist services in the management of diabetes technology in frail people with type 1 diabetes 

Katie Hards, Diabetes specialist nurse - clinical lead adults service, Oxford 

14:05 - No Tech to High Tech, Ageing with Type 1 Diabetes

Iain M Lumsden, Lived experience with type 1 diabetes and using technology 

14:15 - Q&A

Chairs: Dr Giuseppe Maltese, Consultant in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Diabetic Medicine, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Dr Kriss Owen GP partner at Littlewick Medical Centre, Clinical lead for diabetes Derby and Derbyshire ICB

Specialism: Community care

The D-stress study is a 5-yr programme to develop and evaluate a care pathway for the assessment, prevention and management of diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Realist reviews to develop theories (or logic models) for how the D-stress care pathway may work underpinned the development of eight Good Practice Statements for the Assessment of Diabetes Distress in the EASD Clinical Guidelines on this topic 2026. D-stress pre-existed the development of the Guideline Clinical Recommendations for adults with type 1 diabetes but nevertheless embodies them. The presentation will introduce the conference to the 2026 EASD Clinical Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Diabetes Distress and how the D-stress study will deliver a care pathway for delivering them in the UK.

13:25 - Chair's opening remarks

Richard Holt, Professor in Diabetes & Endocrinology, University of Southampton 

13:30 - What Diabetes Distress means to someone living with it: a perspective from type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes

Michelle Law, Person living with type 1 diabetes and Honorary Professor, Exeter University & Mark Tiller, Person living with type 2 diabetes

13:45 - Introduction to the D-stress care pathway and research programme

Jackie Sturt, Professor of Behavioural Medicine in Nursing, King's College London

13:55 - EASD Guideline Good practice statements for the assessment of DD

Richard Holt, Professor in Diabetes & Endocrinology, University of Southampton 

14:02 - How might comprehensive assessment of Diabetes Distress work and does it work differently for adults with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes?

Ruth Harris, Professor of Healthcare for Older Adults, King's College London

14:10 - EASD Clinical recommendations for the management of Diabetes Distress in type 1 diabetes

Richard Holt, Professor in Diabetes & Endocrinology, University of Southampton 

14:18 - How might a group, online, psychosocial intervention reduce elevated DD in type 2 diabetes?

Megan Peck, Research Assistant and D-stress doctoral candidate, King's College London

Themes: Women's health, psychosocial care

Specialisms: Clinical science and Specialist care

To summarise key challenges faced by women with T2D and to update attendees on the latest developments in these fields.

17:00 - Pubertal timing and risk of type 2 diabetes

Ken Ong, Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, University of Cambridge

17:15 - Fertility challenges in women with diabetes

Caroline Ovadia, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh

17:30 - Navigating cultural barriers to contraceptive use

Hina Jawaid, GP

Chairs: Megan Heague, SFP Doctor, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Bernadette Adeyileka-Tracz, CEO, Diabetes Africa

Featuring Prof Helen Bevan, Prof Guy Lubitsh, and a Liverpool-based NHS leader, this closing plenary will explore how leadership values, behaviours, and structures can adapt in response to financial constraints, workforce shortages, and rising demand across the diabetes care pathway.

Each speaker will bring a distinct perspective. The Liverpool-based leader will provide a local anchor, sharing lived leadership experience from the host region. Prof Guy Lubitsh will draw on organisational psychology and leadership expertise to show how teams can adapt and thrive in challenging contexts. Prof Helen Bevan will inspire delegates to see themselves as change agents, leaving with the confidence and tools to lead for equity and innovation.

The session brings together the conference’s core themes of equity, collaboration, and innovation, combining personal insights from NHS system leaders with values-based approaches to inspire delegates with practical ideas they can take back to their own settings.