The aim of the Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) Forum UK is to share best practice through connecting diabetes specialist nurses across the UK within a supportive network leading to improved outcomes for people living with diabetes. The DSN Forum is for all UK based healthcare professionals in the UK. It is designed to help them stay up to date with everything diabetes related, be the first to read the latest news, view hot off the press data, event updates and more. Our website is designed to help healthcare professionals navigate the vast amount of diabetes resources with a simple click of a button: www.diabetesspecialistnurseforumuk.co.uk

The DSN Forum UK was founded by Amanda Williams in March 2018. The Co-Chair is Bethany Kelly and the other two directors are Tamsin Fletcher-Salt and Vicki Alabraba. The team are all passionate NHS diabetes specialist nurses, who love new and innovative ways to raise awareness, educate and improve diabetes care. The DSN Forum won the QiC Diabetes Health Care Professionals of the Year in 2018 and were HSJ Value Award finalists in 2019.

Since its creation, the DSN Forum has stood out as a voice for DSNs in the UK and has worked on several projects with NHS England and other organisations and committees to improve care across the diabetes spectrum.

Our practical comparison charts have been hugely popular and successful. Designed by DSNs for DSNs, to use in clinical practice scenarios every day. They make looking at the vast choices of therapies easier and are meant to be “at-a-glance” info for quick thinking DSNs on the go!

The charts have been widely shared, referenced around the globe and used by all kinds of healthcare professionals as well as people living with diabetes. You can download them for free from here:

www.diabetesspecialistnurseforumuk.co.uk/whats-new

Our podcasts now have 15 thousand listeners and was voted the number one podcast in the UK for diabetes news. Our podcasts feature all the top headlines from international and local level conferences, new guidance, publications, and information. As well as new research and sharing of events, we also debate topical conversations in the media that HCPs working in diabetes need to know!

Our forum now has over 2,000 verified healthcare professional members all of which are specialists working exclusively within diabetes care. Last year, we were overwhelmed to run our very first conference with over 250 DSNs attending the day. This conference was designed for DSNs, by DSNs and was a huge success. So much so, we are now welcoming more DSNs back for day 2. This time, we went bigger and have secured overnight complimentary accommodation and meals, to help nurses to attend this important day of learning and networking.

We have recently collaborated with Diabetes UK on a special website all about encouraging new DSNs to post. This contains everything you need to know about how to become a DSN, what courses to do, who to speak to and why it’s a fabulous career! Check it out here for access to exclusive case studies and support! www.diabetes.org.uk/for-professionals/learning-and-development/how-to-become-diabetes-specialist-nurse

To find out more about the DSN Forum UK, please visit the website: www.diabetesspecialistnurseforumuk.co.uk