A drive to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes will be the focus of the Obesity and Weight Management stream.

Innovative interventions, debates, expert speakers and updates from the NHS Obesity Team will also form part of the stream which will play a key part in the programme at the two-day CPD-accredited show in November.

The stream, expected to be hugely popular with attendees, will be complemented with the return of the Nutrition & Lifestyle Clinic.

Aimed at healthcare professionals from primary, community, specialist and secondary care, the clinic will highlight practical advice and examples of best practice in the joint working of multi-disciplinary teams around the UK. 

Attendees will also receive the latest updates on obesity interventions, weight management, nutrition, diet, exercise and lifestyle. Speakers will include nutritionists, dieticians, GPs, pharmacists, bariatric specialists, obesity and weight management specialists.

DPC founder Maggie Meer said: “We already know that people who are overweight or obese are at significant risk of type 2 diabetes, which if not managed correctly can be a chronic condition. Just last month, figures showed nearly two million people are now at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“We’re in the middle of a growing obesity crisis and we want to do all we can to help prevent more people being diagnosed with this condition before the related complications cripple the NHS. At the moment the situation is pretty dire, with one in six hospital beds occupied by someone with diabetes, if we don’t act fast, then these numbers are going to hit crisis point.”

In addition, last year DPC’s Patient Survey unveiled some surprising findings which helped shape the format for DPC2020.

According to the data, one in four people with diabetes has never been given advice about what they eat, 25 percent of respondents did not receive any lifestyle advice from their healthcare professional and 55 percent of those who took part in the poll said they had never been referred to a specialist dietician for advice on food and nutrition.

Last year, more than 5,300 healthcare professionals, commissioners and service leads gathered at Olympia, London to hear the latest research and learn more clinical skills in a bid to facilitate the sharing of best practice.

DPC2020 is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the prevention, treatment and management of diabetes and its related conditions. It provides a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals from across the diabetes arena to come together to share experiences, gain real-world learning from top practitioners and meet those shaping the future of diabetes care, all in one place.

This year DPC2020 is returning to its regular November slot, taking place on 11 and 12.