A series of presentations aiming to equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to spot chronic kidney disease (CKD) early will be given at a major conference later this year, thanks to a new partnership.
The Kidney Charities Together (KCT) group has joined forces with the Diabetes Professional Care 2019 (DPC2019) conference to put together a practical new DPC Kidney Clinic for the October event.
The KCT group comprises four leading UK kidney charities, Kidney Care UK, Kidney Research UK, the National Kidney Federation, and the Polycystic Kidney Disease Charity.
The practical DPC Kidney Clinic programme will feature interactive sessions on diabetes medications and safe prescribing in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), glycaemic control during dialysis, renal complications during pregnancy and a panel on health inequalities in CKD.
Visitors will also have the unique opportunity to hear first-hand from people with diabetes during the session on ‘Personal experience of diabetes and kidney care’.
Lifestyle and exercise with CKD and diabetes and kidney transplantation will also be covered as well as primary care identification of CKD risk in diabetes as well as care for older people and end of life care.
Sandra Currie (pictured) from Kidney Charities Together said: “DPC2019 will be attended by many healthcare professionals who may not be aware of the significant risk of developing kidney disease as a person living with diabetes has.
“So, with the launch of the new Kidney Clinic, DPC will play a vital role in educating all those involved and should be a step forward in improving the prospects of better kidney health for many.
“Our presence at this conference is recognition of our will to work with all those interested in making kidney care a key part of diabetes management. Our overall aim is to work with interested organisations and individuals to prevent and reduce the number of people living with diabetes developing kidney disease.
“We know kidney disease spotted later can result in poorer health outcomes, with people dying unnecessarily. We want to help people with diabetes and give healthcare professionals the practical skills, to spot the signs of kidney disease early and reduce the risk and maintain kidney health.”
DPC founder Maggie Meer said: “Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. So, we’re proud to be working with the Kidney Charities Together group to address the issue head-on by improving the provision of education for healthcare professionals at DPC2019. Having achieved the biggest attendance so far last year, we are constantly striving to improve diabetes education for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care. This new partnership is a further example of our commitment to improving outcomes and raising the standard of care across the country.”
DPC is the UK’s largest free-to-attend, CPD-accredited conference for healthcare professionals working in diabetes care. Due to increased demand, the conference is moving to a larger hall within Olympia London, when the two-day show opens on October 29. A series of specialist new clinics will be at the heart of a revamped programme, with organisers promising the biggest event yet. Registration for healthcare professionals is already open.
