Friday, 20th – Saturday, 21st April 2012
An Annual Partnership event hosted by the University of Greenwich and the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation (DRWF), in association with the Diabetes Research Network (DRN), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
About the Spring Conference
Pilkington Conference CentreWelcome to the Diabetes Spring Conference and Wellness Day 2012 (DSC 2012) being held at the Pilkington Conference Centre (PCC) on the Medway campus of the University of Greenwich in Kent. The DSC is a unique partnership event whose focus is to bring together patient groups, research scientists and academics, clinicians and other practitioners, policy makers, charities and the general public in this annual two-day event.
We are therefore pleased to invite clinicians and other practitioners within the National Health Service and the private sector, clinical and academic researchers and students, health promoters, educators and policy makers and others working in public health to DSC 2012 following the overwhelming success of DSC 2011.
Call for Abstracts
The Diabetes Spring Conference Planning Committee are pleased to call for the submission of abstracts for presentation at the DSC 2012. You can submit your abstract on-line as part of the registration process.
Abstract Guidelines » | Registration »
Diabetes Management, Prevention and Education
The theme for DSC 2012 is: Diabetes Management, Prevention and Education: What Works? - How Can we Scale-Up Cost-effective Multi-disciplinary, Multi-sectoral Approaches?
The DSC 2012 theme has been chosen to reflect the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) five year focus on ‘Diabetes Education and Prevention’ (2009-2013); in support of the UK Department of Health and NICE focus on secondary and primary prevention strategies for diabetes in the UK, and the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) overall Diabetes Programme goal to improve health through stimulating and supporting the adoption of effective measures for the surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and its complications.
It is our firm belief that there are many examples of excellent working practices and research and clinical evidence already in existence about what works in diabetes prevention and management, to allow effective scaling up of best practices, as part of mainstream national diabetes programmes. A number of cost-effectiveness and economic evaluations of diabetes programmes and evidence from systematic reviews provide a basis for a more concerted multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral approach to tackling diabetes in all its forms. We are also acutely aware of the importance of patient and general education strategies as tools of empowerment for individual management of diabetes as well as for the secondary and primary prevention of diabetes in the population.
Effective approaches to diabetes patient management and its primary prevention require joint thinking, collaborative research and sharing of best practices among all stakeholders. The focus of the Medway Diabetes Spring Conference is therefore to bring together relevant stakeholders in an interactive forum in which academic researchers, clinical practitioners, patient groups, research and wellness organisations, policy makers, community based organizations and the general public can engage both in scientific and policy debates and practical educational events aimed at the general public. DSC 2012 is therefore split into two days – the first one focusing on scientific technical discussions and day two focusing on public engagement and practical outdoor activities to promote public health as follows:
Conference Day 1
A scientific event at which invited specialists deliver keynote lectures on topical issues in diabetes research, clinical practice, education and wellbeing. Short original communications (oral and poster presentations) covering the focus areas are also given by individuals following peer-review of submitted abstracts. The scientific session allows for interactions between participants, culminating in an open panel discussion covering issues from diabetes in clinical and public health practice to research and national policy and programme issues.
Conference Day 2
Diabetes Education and the Public. A public engagement event primarily aimed at providing a forum for practitioners and scientists to dialogue and interact with patients and patient groups, diabetes social networks and the general public through a series of open lectures and workshops, cookery demonstrations, role-plays and outdoor physical activities including Nordic Walking and Tai Chi. This aspect of the DSC is aptly dubbed the “Diabetes Wellness Day” and offers a unique and important opportunity for scientists and practitioners to interact directly with real life “everyday people” and to hear and learn from patients, their families and social networks.
The Diabetes Spring Conference (DSC) also provides opportunities for organisations to mount science and public health exhibitions including the display of information on advances in diabetes care, new and innovative approaches to care and new technologies used in the management and support of people living with diabetes.
As we welcome you to Diabetes Spring Conference 2012, it is our hope that participants will actively engage in the programme and enjoy the activities put together and interact (network) with others including the experts.
Details of attendance costs »
Registration for the DSC closes on Wednesday 4th April 2012.
Sponsors
Bronze Sponsor - Sanofi Diabetes