UEL to host diabetes conference

This conference will draw connections between social care, health care and communities, integrating different ways to meet the needs of people living with diabetes.

Knowledge and insights will be shared by a variety of experts including health and social care professionals, community workers, public health professionals, students, researchers, policymakers, and diabetes advocates.

Dr Julie Botticello, a senior lecturer in public health, will chair the conference.

Keynote speakers include Adeola Agbebiyi, deputy director of public health (interim) at London Borough of Newham, and Dr Tammy Hibbert, a diabetes GP in Newham.

Also speaking is Tony Kelly, who has delivered around 120 community diabetes awareness events yearly in England and abroad for the past 11 years, firstly for Diabetes UK; and now for the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System.

New research will also be shared, including from UEL students who are carrying out a community engagement project in local pharmacies to raise awareness of the condition and what can be done to empower and help people to help themselves.

There is also new funding for UEL academics to research exercise snacks for diabetics to help reduce barriers to exercise; with the idea that even short bursts of exercise to build muscle strength can help manage the disease.

“The potential benefits of exercise 'snacking' for Type 2 Diabetics” will be led by Dr Patricia Smith. Dr Patricia Smith said,

The conference will be an opportunity for those working in the field to prevent and help those with diabetes to share the latest knowledge and research, including on diet, nutrition, exercise and more.

Our Allied and Public Health students will also take a key role on the day when they share the outcomes of their voluntary research projects around diabetes community awareness, which also include informative posters they have designed which will be on display.”

There will also be practical demonstrations of self-care strategies, panel discussions and breakout rooms providing space for questions and answers, and student posters sharing insights from their research.

Panel discussions:

• Health and nutrition in diabetes
• Physical activity and diabetes
• The impacts of socioeconomic inequalities on those living with diabetes
• The role of community pharmacies and GP Practices in raising awareness of diabetes.

The conference runs from 10am – 4pm at the University Square Stratford Campus.