Diabetes Innovation in Practice Programme

Lead the change
in diabetes care
with continuous
glucose monitoring

We are looking for passionate registered NHS healthcare professionals to lead quality-improvement and service-delivery projects that will drive actionable, measurable and replicable change in diabetes care.

With mentorship from leading UK diabetes experts, supported by Hult Ashridge Executive Education,¹and sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care, you’ll be empowered to deliver a project that improves lives and reshapes diabetes care.

We welcome applications from primary care, specialist diabetes teams, mental health, psychology, community services, pharmacy, older people’s services and healthcare professionals with a strong interest in diabetes care.

The ideal candidate

Apply to join

Programme faculty

Why this programme matters

What you will do

How will you benefit

“We delved into a truly immersive learning experience that is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 26-year health and social care career.”

Diabetes Innovator, Cohort 1, 2026

Why this programme matters

Almost
6 million
people are
living with
the condition²

Change is needed

Diabetes is one of the most pressing health challenges facing the UK today. Almost 6 million people are living with the condition, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes, and nearly 1.3 million remain undiagnosed.² The rising prevalence is placing immense pressure on the NHS, and current systems are struggling to keep pace.

Across primary, secondary and community care, healthcare professionals are committed to supporting patients with compassion and expertise – yet they often face challenges such as outdated systems, complex processes, individual and societal barriers, limited resources, and limited support. Overcoming these barriers can unlock the confidence needed to integrate new technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring.³

This programme exists to change that.

What you will do

Identify a local challenge in diabetes care

Design and deliver an impactful project incorporating sensing technology, to solve this challenge

Commit to attend virtual and in-person sessions

Reflect, share, and grow as a leader

Programme schedule

This is a structured 12-month programme designed to support you from idea to impact.

Virtual sessions

Interviews 2–12 November 2026
Application interview with the programme leads (15–20 minutes)

Launch Meeting Thursday, 10 December 2027 12:30–13:30
Introduction to the programme and connecting the cohort (1 hour)

Intermodular Meetings – dates agreed with your mentor
Four group sessions to share progress, troubleshoot challenges and stay connected, with self-directed learning and ongoing mentorship to support your project delivery (1.5 hours each).

In-person sessions

Held at Hult Ashridge Executive Education School, Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS

Learning, self-development and collaboration
Two immersive sessions to focus on project development and peer learning (2 days, 2 nights each)

Module 1: Tuesday, 12 January to Thursday, 14 January 2027
Module 2: Wednesday, 9 June to Friday, 11 June 2027

Graduation and Project Presentation: January 2028
Showcase your final project to key stakeholders at a dedicated session in January 2028

“Leading voices in diabetes and healthcare that brought depth, expertise and real-world insight to every discussion”

Diabetes Innovator, Cohort 1, 2026

How will you benefit from this programme?

Gain experience in successfully delivering a quality-improvement project

Become part of a community that fosters collaboration for change across the local and regional healthcare ecosystem

Advance your skills while having a positive impact on communities and “people living with diabetes” projects

Develop your insight and thought leadership, enabling you to continue delivering innovative strategies in complex healthcare environments

Receive support and mentorship in addressing complex challenges

Create measurable benefits for people living with diabetes

Reimbursement

This is a voluntary role. Programme costs, travel and accommodation are covered and will be booked by Abbott Diabetes Care.

The ideal candidate

You are a passionate, driven and innovative UK-based registered NHS healthcare professional with a special interest in diabetes. You:

Have a passion for improving diabetes healthcare and a desire to challenge the status quo
Actively work with people living with diabetes, with a strong knowledge of local healthcare systems
Have a clear idea for a diabetes service-improvement project using sensing technology that can achieve local, regional or national impact
Are ready to lead and influence improvements in diabetes healthcare and secure buy- in across stakeholders, services and systems
Possess self-awareness regarding your behavioural strengths and development opportunities and strive towards continuous learning and development
Demonstrate compassionate leadership by displaying sensitivity to how words, actions and decision impact others
Are willing to present at local, national and international forums

Applications are welcomed from professionals working across:

Primary care
Specialist diabetes services
Community healthcare
Older people’s services
Mental health services
Diabetes psychology
Pharmacy
Allied health professions
Integrated care systems
Other healthcare settings that support people living with diabetes.

Tell us how you would improve diabetes care in your community — and why you’re ready to lead change.

“As I return to my NHS roles, I carry forward not just new skills, but a renewed sense of purpose.”

Diabetes Innovator, Cohort 1, 2026

Programme Faculty

Our Programme Faculty, including the Abbott Diabetes Care Medical Team, will select and mentor delegates and projects, provide data, information and research findings, and assist with presentations and publications.

Professor Naresh Kanumilli

Visiting Professor – Institute of Medicine, University of Greater Manchester | Chair – Primary Care Diabetes & Obesity Society | Community Diabetes Consultant – Manchester University Foundation Trust | Clinical Champion – Diabetes UK | Clinical Network Lead for Diabetes – Greater Manchester | Honorary Clinical Advisor for Primary Care Research – GMCRN

Nicola Milne, Queen’s Nurse RGN RM

Primary Care Diabetes Specialist Nurse | Author – The Oxford Book of Diabetes Nursing | Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Clinical Lead – Greater Manchester and East Cheshire Strategic Clinical Network | Co-Vice Chair – Primary Care Diabetes & Obesity Society

Dr. Rose Stewart

Consultant Clinical Psychologist | Diabetes Psychology Lead – for Wales |

Chair – UK Diabetes Psychology Network

Philip Newland-Jones

Consultant Pharmacist and Honorary Associate Professor in Diabetes and Endocrinology | Clinical Director of Diabetes and Endocrinology – University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust

Professor Guy Lubitsh

Professor for Leadership and Psychology – Hult Ashridge Executive Education

Dr. Elemer Balogh

Medical Director – Abbott Diabetes Care

Accessibility and diversity

We are committed to a truly inclusive environment and will ensure diversity through representation from different professions, areas of the UK and projects.

Apply to join

Diabetes Innovation in Practice Programme - application form

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM

Applications are welcome from HCPs that have not received payment from Abbott for Professional Services in the last 12 months.

By submitting this application form to Abbott, I agree for my data to be processed in line with Abbott’s privacy policy (https://pro.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/privacy-policy.html) and, where required, to be shared with approved third parties in order to provide the programme. Applications are welcome from HCPs that are not currently contracted to work with Abbott Diabetes Care and have not provided Professional Services to Abbott Diabetes Care in the last 12 months.

References & Disclaimers

Images are for illustrative purposes only. Not real patient, data or healthcare professional.

1. https://www.hult.edu.

2. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/about-the-charity/our-strategy/statistics.

3. Seidu, S. Diabet Med (2024): https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15500.

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Diabetes Innovation in Practice Programme