Health professionals from across the region converged on Lowestoft for a special conference, which highlighted the latest thinking in the battle against diabetes.

East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) held the diabetes conference for healthcare specialists from across Norfolk and Suffolk last Friday, November 10.

ECCH clinicians wanted to promote the importance of integrating healthcare services to provide the best possible support and care for those suffering with, and at risk of, developing the condition.

According to recent figures, almost 3.6 million people have been diagnosed in the UK with a further million estimated to be living with diabetes but as yet unaware they have it. About 700 people are diagnosed every day – that's the equivalent of one person every two minutes. Since 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled.

The conference, which was held at ECCH's headquarters in Battery Green Road, Lowestoft, was open to staff from GP practices, care homes, community health organisations and acute hospitals in Norfolk and Suffolk.

The event included presentations by the charity Diabetes UK, ECCH's research team, pharmaceuticals companies and diabetes specialist nurses.

Workshops were also organised promoting safer administration of insulin, training to teach people how to change their lifestyles to prevent diabetes, and health coaching to help those with the condition to take control of their own treatment. Delegates also had a 'diabetic friendly' lunch.

ECCH director of quality, Dr Noreen Cushen-Brewster – who chaired the conference – said: 'Diabetes is the fastest growing health threat of our times and it's a life-changing diagnosis.

'Those affected have to check their blood sugars to ensure that they stay within safe parameters and carefully plan their meals and exercise. We wanted to highlight the importance of healthcare organisations collaborating to deal with the huge increase in this condition in order to provide the best possible all round care.

'We believe being proactive and co-ordinating better care through the system will mean clinicians, carers and patients have consistent goals which can improve people's health and quality of life.

'We are very encouraged by the positive feedback from the conference which underlines how our colleagues in other healthcare organisations agree with our thinking.'