Diabetes Specialist Group - Bridging the Gap: Supporting Neurodiversity to Reduce Diabetes Health Inequalities

Hosted by the BDA Diabetes Specialist Group

This year's study day looks at how a neurodiversity-informed approach (one that recognises and supports neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism and ADHD) can help address health inequalities in diabetes care. Across the day, speakers will bring together clinical evidence, real-world practice, and lived experience, offering perspectives that are often overlooked in mainstream diabetes care and education.

The programme is aimed primarily at registered UK dietitians, though the topics will resonate with anyone working in diabetes care more broadly. Sessions cover health inequalities in diabetes, food insecurity in adults with type 2 diabetes, ADHD and type 1 diabetes, neurodivergence explored from both a clinical psychology and dietetic perspective, practical guidance on creating easy read resources, and approaches to developing community-based health initiatives.

Throughout the day there will also be plenty of opportunity for networking over breakfast and lunch, alongside regular breaks between sessions.

Important 

This is a hybrid event. Please make sure you select the correct ticket type at check out. Remote ticket holders will be sent the live stream link closer to the time of the event. 

Speakers 

• Dr Ruth Boocock presenting on Identifying and supporting food insecure adults with type 2 diabetes
  
  More about Ruth: Dr Ruth Boocock is a Registered Dietitian and Associate Professor of Knowledge Exchange. With over 30 years’ professional experience, her expertise and research focus on type 2 diabetes, health inequalities and practice‑based learning. She chairs the BDA Quality Standards Committee and is the BDA subject matter expert for the dietetic common assessment tool.
   
• Alexis Paton presenting on Meeting People Where They Are: Developing Community Health Initiatives with Communities
  
  More about Alexis: I’m Dr. Alexis Paton - a medical sociologist and bioethicist who looks at how society, ethics, and healthcare all connect. I study things like how patients make decisions, why health inequalities exist, and how ethics shape the care people receive. My goal is to help make health systems fairer, more transparent, and better for everyone. As part of this goal I am co-host of the Sick Society podcast and appear regularly in the media. I am the director of the Centre for Health and Society and a Senior Lecturer at Aston University.
   
• Flora Wilcox and Valentina Borgognoni
  
  More about Flora and Valentina: Valentina and Flora are Forensics Dietitians working in a low-medium secure hospital in East London Foundation Trust. | Valentina is a Registered Dietitian and Co-Event Coordinator for the BDA Diabetes Specialist Group, with experience spanning nutrition support and prescribing, weight management, and international public health, including leading health projects in Latin America. She is passionate about addressing health inequalities, advocating for vulnerable populations, and challenging the stigma that can surround them. She co-authored a paper on implementing a Rapid Access Dietetic Service to care homes during COVID-19, which won a PENG award for service innovation.
   
• Alison Holloway presenting on Neurodivergence and Diabetes: From Recognition and Understanding to Neuroaffirming Dietetic Practice
  
  More about Alison: Alison Holloway is a UK Registered Dietitian with more than 30 years’ experience, including many years working in specialist diabetes services within the NHS. Now working fully freelance, she provides neuroaffirming dietetic care for neurodivergent adults, particularly those experiencing eating difficulties alongside complex chronic health conditions.
  Alongside her clinical practice, Alison provides training and education for health professionals supporting neurodivergent adults with eating and nutrition, including how to adapt dietary management for the complex comorbid health conditions that commonly affect neurodivergent people.
   
• Rose Stewart presenting on Neurodivergence and diabetes: a crash course for diabetes staff
  
  More about Rose: Dr Rose Stewart is a multi-award winning Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in North Wales. She is the Diabetes Psychology lead for Wales and the chair of the UK Diabetes Psychology Network. She writes guided self-help books for people living with diabetes (the Talking Type 1 range), is a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion and member of the Council of Healthcare Professionals, and lectures at Swansea and Bangor universities. Dr Stewart uses a range of third-wave therapeutic approaches to work with high-risk client groups, and has particular interests in working with young adults, interventions to prevent psychological distress and creating psychologically informed care systems.
   

Cost 

Early bird offer to Diabetes Specialitst Group members for face-to-face tickets! Offer ends 28 September.

• Diabetes Specialist Group members:
  Early Bird: £65 for in person ticket
  Standard ticket: £75 live/face to face & remote 

• BDA members
  £115 live/face to face/remote

• Non-BDA members
  £135 live/face to face/remote

• Students
  Free

Admin code: SLA