FEND news

Our Professor in Diabetes Nursing, Angus Forbes, has been busy this year with the successful launch of the new ENDCUP Programme, which comprised a summer school completed in July and an ongoing e-learning programme. A number of students from Europe and other countries in the world took part in the programme, and on completion will receive a postgraduate certificate in clinical diabetes management.

The conference, held in Lisbon this year, was once again well attended (>650 delegates) and highly evaluated. The programme was very well received with exceptional speakers who delivered highly appropriate and stimulating presentations. Rita Forde, a former committee member of FEND, has written an excellent report outlining the main points from the meeting (see page 117).

The journal continues to go from strength to strength with three issues published each year. I hope you are continuing to think of the journal first for any original work or innovations in practice you may wish to share. The editors are working hard to obtain index submission for the journal.

FEND, through you the members, continues to promote World Diabetes Day, and we trust that this year it will be another successful day highlighting the important issues of education and prevention.

FEND continues to work in collaboration with other European organisations to make up the European Coalition for Diabetes (ECD). The objective of this group is to improve prevention of diabetes, as well as the health and quality of life of European citizens living with diabetes, by influencing European Union policy. There is further information in this issue from your President, with regard to the recent United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases.

We look forward to hearing from you, whether online, through the journal or at our next annual conference. The conference next year will take place on 28 and 29 September 2012 in Berlin.