Empowering Diabetes Care: Insights from Julia Burdon and MyDESMOND

Affordable Healthy Eating for Type 2 Diabetes: Expert Tips from Fin Turner

In this episode, we’re joined once again by Finley Turner, Senior Specialist Research Dietitian at the Leicester Diabetes Centre. This time, we’re diving into the practical realities of eating well on a budget. Together, we explore what a balanced diet looks like for someone living with type 2 diabetes, which nutrient-rich, budget-friendly foods deserve a place on your shopping list, and how to get portion sizes right without feeling restricted. We also tackle the often-debated topic of convenience foods, which options Fin recommends, and which nutrient-dense foods make ideal snacks when time and money are tight. With a wealth of experience and plenty of practical advice, Fin offers clear, realistic guidance on making healthy eating more affordable and achievable.

Understanding Emotional Eating with Dietitian Fin Turner

In this episode, we talk with Fin Turner, Senior Specialist Research Dietitian at the Leicester Diabetes Centre, about the fascinating topic of emotional eating, the tendency to eat in response to feelings such as sadness, stress, anxiety, or boredom rather than physical hunger. We also explore other eating patterns, including reward-based eating (for example, eating during celebrations) and habitual eating (such as snacking at the end of the workday), and discuss how to distinguish true physical hunger from cravings. To help break the cycle of eating when not physically hungry, we discuss several practical strategies, including mindful eating, acceptance and compassion-based approaches, journaling, and using non-food alternatives, such as physical activity, when cravings arise.

Breaking the Stigma: Young Adults and Type 2 Diabetes

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Michelle Hadjiconstantinou, Lead Chartered Psychologist at the Leicester Diabetes Centre and Behavioural Scientist at the University of Leicester. Together, we explore the prejudice and stigma that young adults living with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) often face. From well-meaning friends and family suggesting that someone “must be eating too much or not exercising enough,” to healthcare professionals commenting that “your sugar levels aren’t good enough,” young adults can encounter a constant stream of negative assumptions and language. These experiences can have profound effects on psychological well-being, leading some to avoid healthcare interactions or even hide their diagnosis from people close to them. While awareness of diabetes-related stigma is growing, there is still much more work to be done. We discuss how continued efforts are needed to educate the media, healthcare professionals, communities, and families, and to advocate for policies that challenge negative stereotypes and help de-stigmatise T2DM.

Empowering Diabetes Care: Insights from Julia Burdon and MyDESMOND

This week, we’re in conversation with Julia Burdon, an experienced Education and Research Associate based in the Leicester Diabetes Centre. Julia shares her insights from years of teaching and training educators to deliver diabetes self-management courses, all with the goal of empowering people with type 2 diabetes to lead healthier lives. She also discusses MyDESMOND, an award-winning digital platform developed by the Leicester Diabetes Centre, which provides interactive e-learning through videos and activities, access to expert guidance, and a supportive online community. The platform is designed to help individuals manage their condition and make sustainable lifestyle changes for better long-term health.

Fertility, Women’s Health, and Type 2 Diabetes – With Professor Claire Meek

This week, we welcome back Professor Claire Meek, a clinical academic at the Leicester Diabetes Centre whose research focuses on diabetes in pregnancy.  In this episode, we turn our attention to women’s health and fertility in type 2 diabetes. Prof Meek discusses the challenges that women with type 2 diabetes may face and explores how strategies such as optimising blood glucose control and weight loss, including the use of GLP-1 medications, can help improve fertility outcomes.