The New Year started off with some positive news when it was announced that the Diabetes 101 team was launching a resources website to help people with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A COVID-19, dexamethasone and hyperglycaemia document was also released in January to complement local guidance for trusts in London.
Later that month the PCDS published a COVID-19 and diabetes recommendation document to help primary care services function better during the latest wave of the coronavirus.
And the NHS England delivered insulin delegation administration resources aimed at enabling community teams to manage the increasing demand for insulin administration.
Also in January, NICE guidelines for children and young people were updated.
Data released in that month also showed that there was a huge surge in advanced foot disease cases during the pandemic.
A major story which hit the headlines this month was that a position statement on the cardiovascular impact of new diabetes medications was published by the ABCD.
Similarly, a position statement on cardiac rehabilitation and diabetes was published for the first time in February to provide clinicians with guidance on how to help people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes start exercising safely again.
Healthcare professionals were encouraged to share their views when the consultation process for the updated NICE guideline on CKD was opened in February.
Also that month, vaccine prioritisation questions were raised after research revealed that those with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of COVID-19 mortality.
The second edition of the Joint British Diabetes Societies self-management guideline was also published that month for nursing staff, ward pharmacists, inpatient diabetes specialist teams and for those involved in the implementation of local diabetes care policies.
In addition, Professor Alan Sinclair made calls to make frailty detection and management part of routine diabetes care in older people.
The Diabetes Times Editor Oliver Jelley spoke with the Global Head of Roche Diabetes Care, Marcel Gmünder in that month’s edition of The Big Interview.
Also in March, a team of established diabetes specialists celebrated the GIRFT Report during the first DPC Winter Forum session.
And, Diabetes Nurse Consultant, Erwin Castro was announced as the new DISN UK Chair.
Later that month, guidelines for dexamethasone in care home residents with diabetes were also issued to help staff offer the best care support.
In April, Sanofi teamed up with award-winning training organisation Eden, to provide care home staff across the UK with the very latest training in diabetes care for older people.
Additionally, a team of researchers reported a major increase in life-threatening DKA cases.
May started off with leading diabetes consultant, Professor Ketan Dhatariya taking part in the latest Big Interview.
Also that month, the UK Chemotherapy Board joined forces with the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care to issue glycaemic control guidance for those with diabetes and cancer.
Roche Diabetes Care launched online video resources for people with type 2 diabetes to help demonstrate the importance of ‘meaningful monitoring’.
And, Asensia launched a pioneering diabetes management and analytics platform for healthcare professionals and people with diabetes to access their data.
The announcement of a £2.1 million heart disease and type 2 diabetes research project also took place in May.
June was a big month for the diabetes community when news broke that the NHS is starting to supply artificial pancreases to people with type 1 diabetes.
Later that month, the DPC summer forum focused on key points from the ADA conference to show healthcare professionals how to improve the care they offer to people with diabetes.
Updated recommendations on the treatment of adults with diabetic ketoacidosis were published by the Joint British Diabetes Societies in June 2021, a decade after they were first made available.
The same group also issued new guidelines on hyperglycaemia and steroids to provide healthcare professionals with up-to-date inpatient guidance.
Meanwhile, the Diabetes Technology Network developed a pump pathway to help increase uptake across the UK.
And the ABCD published its COVID-19 and type 1 diabetes audit results.
In July, flash glucose monitoring use was associated with a reduction in diabetes distress.
Professor Gerry Rayman helped produce a new leaflet for people with diabetes awaiting surgery to help them get their body and mind in the best possible condition ahead of an operation.
Ascensia Diabetes Care launched a patient assistance program so more people have access to a continuous glucose monitoring system.
Also that month, a new model of care was developed for community diabetes nurses and healthcare professionals in Wales launched an app to help people with diabetes check for Lipos.
July also saw Professor Kamlesh Khunti champion that pharmacists, nurses and educators are key to combating type 2 diabetes therapeutic inertia.
New guidelines on treating people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease were published in August.
In addition, an NHS report showed that diabetes drug prescriptions have increased by eight million since 2015.
Earlier that month, highly regarded GP, Dr David Unwin found that a low-carb diet enhances renal function in people with type 2 diabetes.
According to the findings from the first Young People with Type 2 Diabetes report, people under the age of 40 with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be female, live in an area of social deprivation, be classified as overweight or obese and be of minority ethnicity, particularly Asian.
In September, new research demonstrated that the Low Carb Program is extremely beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, and it is just as effective at supporting weight loss and glycaemic control as face-to-face obesity management.
That month also saw that FreeStyle LibreLink app users spend more time in target glucose range compared to traditional users.
In The Big Interview, we spoke to Dr Mayank Patel about apps, the future of diabetes and his new comic book collection.
Newly updated guidance on oncology and glucose-related emergencies from the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care was also published in September.
And clinicians across the UK were encouraged to review and comment on the latest NICE guidelines for type 2 diabetes.
Meanwhile, Hypo Awareness Week 2021 took place from Monday, September 13 to September 19.
Trend Diabetes developed a specialist app to provide healthcare professionals with the latest diabetes guidance at the touch of a button.
Also that month, major concerns grew over diabetes checks, prompting the InDependent Diabetes Trust to develop a new leaflet to raise awareness of what checks people with diabetes are entitled to every year.
October saw the 11th annual QiC awards recognise best practice in UK diabetes care during the pandemic.
Spotlight-AQ, an online tool that improves physical and mental health outcomes for people with diabetes, announced it will be officially launching in November at DPC2021.
Also that month, Moorfields Eye Hospital and St George’s, University of London teamed up to deliver a half a million-pound diabetes eye screening project.
Meanwhile, the leading diabetes social media influencers were revealed, with Professor Partha Kar coming top.
Earlier that month, a research study found that low glycaemic state increases risks of frailty and functional decline in older people with type 2 diabetes.
DPC2021 brought the community back together after returning in November as the first in-person diabetes event in two years.
Also that month, figures showed that half of people with type 1 diabetes are benefitting from flash monitors on the NHS.
Additionally, the latest NICE guidelines on glucose monitoring were issued for review.
In the The Big Interview, Consultant Podiatrist Richard Leigh discussed the potential impact of new antibiotics on footcare and Nurse Consultant June James reflected on her nursing career and greatest achievements.
The Low Carb Program also achieved DTAC certification from the NHS in November.
In December, an NHS audit showed promising HbA1c results in type 1 diabetes.
Latest research also revealed that several NHS Trusts redeployed DISNs during the first wave of the pandemic.
Additionally, researchers found that signposting people to the Low Carb Program is feasible in NHS primary care.
Meanwhile, a new diabetes inpatient podcast discussing the current topics of debate surrounding diabetes inpatient care was made available.
The top EASD 2021 online conversations were also revealed in December.
Finally, Professor Ketan Dhatariya was recognised as the world’s top expert for diabetic ketoacidosis.
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