Diabetes consultants launch new type 1 event

An event created to inspire people with type 1 diabetes to “think differently” about their condition takes place this weekend.

The Talking About Diabetes (TAD) meeting has been organised by a team of leading diabetes consultants in a bid to “bring people together so they can talk about type 1 diabetes”.

Eight high-profile speakers have been lined up to present at the Diabetes UK and JDRF supported event.

Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb, whose son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, will share his experience from a parent’s perspective and The Diabetes Times columnist Ninjabetic will also talk about her thoughts on her condition.

‘Discussion’

The event is being organised by Dr Partha Kar, who is from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Catherine Peters from the paediatric endocrinology and diabetes department at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Peter Hindmarsh, professor of paediatric endocrinology at University College London.

Dr Partha Kar, who is also the associate editor of The Diabetes Times, said: “The aim of this conference is to bring together individuals who have inspirational stories to share their experiences of living with diabetes.

Hopefully the event will generate lots of discussion and will encourage those living with diabetes to think more positively about their condition

“The goal is to get people to think differently about their condition, removing the barriers and stigmas that tend to be associated with diabetes.

“Hopefully the event will generate lots of discussion and will encourage those living with diabetes to think more positively about their condition. We want to bring people together so they can talk about diabetes.”

Team Novo Nordisk’s Joe Eldridge, an athlete with the first type 1 diabetes pro-cycling team and Labour MP Jamie Reed, who was diagnosed in 2010 will also talk at the event.

The speakers will present for 20 minutes to present their thoughts, with questions from the audience taken afterwards. The talks will be videoed so they can be shared with a wider online audience at a later date.

The event will take place at the South Kensington Campus of Imperial College London on March 12.