United Through Diabetes Web Event Series 2026
Diabetes: A Whole Life Blueprint
A lifelong roadmap for integrated health, wellbeing, and diabetes management at every stage of the journey.
A deep dive into the nuances of life’s journey and managing diabetes and overall health effectively in all stages and aspects of life. Taking a softer, more holistic and inspirational approach while still providing key clinical messages and positive outcomes.
Focusing on the shared lived experience and power of the diabetes community. Creating chapters covering the entire human experience from birth to the golden years.
Focusing on the " diabetes journey" to make what may be perceived as a clinical subject feel personal, supportive, holistic and a story of health and wellbeing for everyone.
Chapter One
Foundations and the Path to Independence
Our journey begins with early years. From birth, nursery and toddlerhood , to teens and growing pains and then through the formative years of school and exams and the exciting and scary move to college, university and those first times living away from family and home and being responsible for your own diabetes management without mum and dad.
We will explore the many transition points of paediatric type 1 care and the transition to the adult diabetes service and all the changes that come with the change to adulthood.
Consideration of the child with type 1 diabetes, the impact, challenges and role of parents, family members, teachers and the healthcare professionals involved in their care.
Following the lived experience of our adult panel experts and guest family living with type 1 diabetes, considering the road ahead and what that journey may bring.
Dr Renuka Dias
Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, Birmingham Women and Children’s Hospital
Dr Rose Stewart
National Diabetes Psychology Lead
Dr Meera Ladwa MRCP PhD
Clinical Lead for Type 1, Transition and Young Adult Diabetes
Kelly Carden
Person living with type 1 diabetes, Diabetes Specialist Nurse – Young Adult Outreach
Jed, Stephanie and Harper Whitecross
Type 1 parents / Family living with type 1 diabetes
Chapter Two
The Rhythm of Womanhood
Moving to female health and the key topics of puberty and menstruation, pregnancy and gestational diabetes, sexual health, hormones, perimenopause and menopause.
Women supporting each other though honest discussion and the whole lived female experience while navigating life with all types of diabetes.
Dr Joan St John GP
Specialist in Primary Care Diabetes and Health Inequalities
Dr Anna Brackenridge
Consultant Diabetologist, Clinical Lead for Diabetes
Dawn Adams
Person Living with Type 1 Diabetes Midwife
Christine Edwards Person
Person Living with Type 2 Diabetes
Chapter Three
The Strength to Speak Out
Focusing now on men’s Health. Encouraging men to take an even more active role in their overall health and diabetes management.
Facilitating candid discussion on topics such as cardiovascular health, urological and prostate health, sexual wellbeing and addressing the psychological "armour" men often wear that prevents sharing and openness, helping to overcome the "silent" challenges of diabetes.
Addressing diabetes complications early and integrating proactive physical and mental health checks into a busy life.
Dr Mayank Patel
Consultant in Diabetes, University Hospital Southampton
Daniel Newman
Person Living with Type 1 Diabetes
Arshad Siddat
Men’s Shed Volunteer and Person Living with Diabetes
Chapter Four
The Heart of Wellbeing
We will look at how the constant pressure of managing diabetes and living with a long-term chronic condition can affect mental health, mindset, and emotional resilience.
Changing the focus slightly from blood glucose and addressing the very real impact of diabetes distress, diabetes burnout and the mental fatigue of 24/7 management, as well as other factors like anxiety, needle phobia, fear of hypoglycaemia, eating disorders, and adjusting to diagnosis.
How to access clinical support, self-coping strategies, the importance of peers and creating a diabetes toolkit to help maintain the mental energy required to deal with diabetes at those times when it’s easy to be overcome by it.
Professor Andrea Cameron, NTF, PFHEA
Professor of Professional Practice in Health Education
Simon McKee
Founder: Diabetes Take Control, Public Speaker
Claire Levy
Person Living with Type 2 Diabetes / LADA
Nina Puddefoot
Master Practitioner and Certified NLP Trainer
Chapter Five
Purpose and the Professional World
Now we look at the tools, rules and support available to ensure we stay well, safe and looked after in the workplace.
Our experts will guide us through occupational health and human resources guidelines, the disability at work act, driving and DVLA policies, restrictions and career barriers. We will discuss managing shiftwork or a high-pressure roles, rights, reasonable medical adjustments and appointments, and the logistics of self-care during the working day.
How to manage glucose stability during high-stress meetings, physical labour, or irregular hours, ensuring diabetes is a passenger, not the driver, of your career.
Dr Alastair Leckie
Consultant in Occupational Medicine The University of Edinburgh
Sarah Bool
Person Living with Type 1 Diabetes Conservative Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire
Sajeela Kershi
Person Living with Type 2 Diabetes Award-Winning Comedian
Dr Adnan Ali
Person Living with type 1 diabetes, Multi-Award-Winning Patient Engagement Leader and Consultant
Chapter Six
Fit For The Future: NHS 10-Year Health Plan for AI, Data and Digital Transformation
In this chapter we will look at five transformative technologies that have been identified as strategic priorities by the NHS as they become embedded in clinical pathways - data, artificial intelligence, genomics, wearable technology and robotics.
Enhancements to existing systems, including a revamped NHS app, Single Patient Records and the adoption of ambient AI tools will also form part of the plan.
Professor David Strain
FRCP MD Professor in Cardiometabolic Health
Sarah Tutton
Chief Executive Officer, Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation
Chapter Seven
The Wisdom of Ageing Well
This final episode is a poignant way to bring the Whole Life Blueprint full circle. There is a specific kind of resilience that comes from decades of management, and shifting the focus now to "longevity with grace" sets exactly the right tone to complete our journey.
As we move into the later years, the goal often shifts from "tightest possible control" to "safety, stability, and quality of life." and we look at growing older with diabetes with longevity, grace and maintaining the very best physical and mental health possible.
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