Pioneering diabetes training and guidance launched in care homes

A multi-award-winning care home group has welcomed a new innovative set of guidelines which aim to improve care for residents living with diabetes following the successful launch of a training scheme in three of its centres.

Hallmark Care Homes held the first of many training sessions in collaboration with DUET diabetes recently at Henley Manor in Henley-on-Thames, Chamberlain Court in Royal Tunbridge Wells and Greenhill Manor in Merthyr Tydfil.

Read more here

Growth development in 2022

The Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People (fDROP) is making the year 2022 one of growth and development with new team members, new areas of clinical service, policy activity and new research aspirations. fDROP is working closely with the University of Aston (UK) and King’s College, London, UK nationally, and internationally, with the University of Bordeaux, France, Harvard University, USA, Padua University (CNR), University of Toulouse, France, and the Hospital de Getafe, Madrid, Spain.

The role of fDROP

Since, July 2020, fDROP has been leading on the coordination of the work of the National Advisory Panel on Care Home Diabetes (NAPCHD) what was established by its Chair, Professor Alan Sinclair in liaison with key diabetes organisations and other major stakeholders. Its primary purpose is to bring about an improvement in the nature and quality of diabetes care delivered to the 100,000 or so residents living with diabetes in UK care homes. The NAPCHD will be launching four documents under the umbrella ‘Strategic Document of Diabetes Care ‘in early April, 2022. Please see here.

Improving diabetes care for older people

fDROP is now the home of the Older Peoples Diabetes Network (OPDN) which was established by Professor Sinclair (Director) about a decade ago when NHS Diabetes was operating at the Department of Health. The OPDN continues to hold annual meetings/webinars bringing a diverse audience of professionals and people living with diabetes (PLWD) up to date clinical and research news on diabetes care in older people. Part of the work of the OPDN is to offer PLWD and their families/carers an opportunity to discuss their own diabetes-related care as part of the Complex Cases Panel of fDROP. The OPDN will be developing its activities over the year 2022.

World-renowned founder

In the early part of this year, 2022, Professor Sinclair was listed as a world expert (based on publications record) in three areas, Diabetes, Ageing, and Frailty. Diabetes Times, the leading consumer journal, drew attention to this. This is mainly because of an annual rate of publication of 10-12 articles for the last decade.

International connections

fDROP is also the new home of the European Diabetes Working Party for Older People (EDWPOP) which was established 10 or more years ago. Working closely with the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS), the EDWPOP has recently produced international guidance on managing COVID-19 in care homes across the European continent.