Professor Helen Murphy and Professor Roman Hovorka talk all things hybrid closed loop systems during the latest episode of Talking Diabetes. The special edition episode was recorded live at this year’s Diabetes UK Professional Conference, which did partly look at the emergence of hybrid closed loop technology. During the podcast, Professor Hovorka, from the University of Cambridge, speaks about his Banting Memorial Lecture on closed loop systems – a prestigious research presentation given by an expert in diabetes. He said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to share the progress we have done and ..read more

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to book their place on a free educational webinar in the run up to Insulin Safety Week 2024. Aligned with the theme of Insulin Safety Week 2024, which emphasises the safe utilisation of diabetes technology, Dr Helen Murphy and Dr Tara Lee will deliver an online educational session on Thursday, May 16. The webinar will feature a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in diabetes technology that are revolutionising the management of diabetes during pregnancy and beyond. Attendees will gain insights into which hybrid closed loop systems offer the mos ..read more

Newly updated guidance on using technology to support diabetes care in hospital has been published by the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care and the Diabetes Technology Network. The guideline aims to provide inpatient teams with advice on how to make best use of current technology to support diabetes care in hospital. Entitled ‘Using technology to support diabetes care in hospital’, the guidance states that all hospitals should have a written policy for the use of wearable technologies within the inpatient setting, including continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and hyb ..read more

Researchers at the University of Oxford are recruiting volunteers with type 1 diabetes for a ground-breaking study looking at stem-cell derived pancreatic islet transplants without taking anti-rejection medication.   Recruitment is underway for the second Vertex Clinical Trial of transplantation of stem cell-derived pancreatic islets – the VX264 Trial. This latest trial is for people with type 1 diabetes over the age of 18 and with good awareness of hypoglycaemia. It involves transplanting stem cell-derived islets in immune-protective capsules under the abdominal wall. People in this ..read more

A pioneering new programme for lead primary care nurses with an interest in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular-renal-metabolic (CVRM) conditions will launch next month. Designed by a steering group of practitioners from primary and secondary care, the programme will help lead nurses to learn, grow and ultimately improve the care they offer to people living with CVRM conditions. Entitled ‘Elevate – Clinical Leadership and Excellence for Nurses in Primary Care’, the two-year programme will host meetings and webinars to share best practice. The programme has been created by Queen’s nurse Beverley ..read more

Shortlisted finalists have been announced for the first awards ceremony celebrating exceptional nurses who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, innovation, and excellence in diabetes care. Beating off tough competition from nursing heroes across the UK, the Diabetes Nursing Awards finalists for each category are as follows: Diabetes Educator of the Year Sharon Elizabeth Jones (Cromwell Hospital) Paula Lavandeira-Fernandez (Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust) Sharla Paz (East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust) Northumbria University Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health / Academic Te ..read more

Children and young people with type 1 diabetes are more likely to improve their glycaemic management, time-in-range and quality of life by using a hybrid closed loop (HCL) system, according to the largest real-world investigation of HCL in the UK. Researchers have found that these improvements associated with using HCL systems encompass reduced fear and worry related to hypoglycaemia, with hypo frequency reducing among the study participants by 50 per cent. In addition, the results show that those who used a HCL system for six to 12 months experienced enhanced sleep quality, as did their paren ..read more

Physical activity in natural environments prevent almost 13,000 cases of non-communicable diseases a year in England and saves treatment costs of more than £100 million, new research from the University of Exeter has found. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the most common non-communicable diseases – including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease – cause 74 per cent of global mortality. Non communicable diseases, also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person and deaths attributed to these diseases are increasing in most co ..read more

A trainee health psychologist is inviting healthcare professionals in the UK to be interviewed about their experiences supporting people living with type 2 diabetes and a severe mental illness. Mehrad Tafreshi, from Glasgow Caledonian University, is looking to question healthcare professionals on this topic as part of an empirical research project he is undertaking. Participation in the online semi-structed interview is voluntary, and all information shared by participants will be anonymised. Interviews will last between 30 to 45 minutes. As a gesture of appreciation for taking the time to be ..read more

Vibrations created by a smart shoe insole improve the balance and walking quality in people with nerve damage caused by diabetes, a new study has shown. Wearing vibrating insoles could help millions of people living with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) – a condition that causes damage to people’s nerves. Researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport tested the effectiveness of an intelligent shoe insole system that creates vibrations on the bottom of the feet to improve foot sensation. The results of the study, published in the Diabetes Care journal, show ..read more