The Improving Diabetes Care Course (IDC), previously known as the Certificate in Diabetes Care (CIDC) course, is the UK’s leading foundation programme in diabetes care. To date over 14,000 healthcare professionals have enrolled on the course.
There has never been a more critical time to ensure the healthcare workforce in both primary and secondary care are skilled to deal with diabetes as a growing epidemic. There is recognition in a report led by leading diabetes charity Diabetes UK that staff involved in the management of those with diabetes should gain additional qualifications to fulfil their role.
What if you could play a pivotal role in providing diabetes care that makes a real difference to patients and helps to tackle the rising costs in the NHS?
The new and improved course, launching in September 2025, provides highly engaging education that ensures a thorough understanding of practical diabetes knowledge and skills that are necessary to deliver effective and efficient services managing the care of people with diabetes.
Sensitive to the constraints on busy healthcare professionals, the Improving Diabetes Care course links the latest cutting-edge research and evidence-based theory directly with clinical practice. The course is aimed at meeting the educational needs of all healthcare staff with an interest in diabetes care.
This programme offers a range of stimulating interactive learning activities structured to support your professional development.
You will be able to participate in case-based scenarios, question and answer forums, quizzes, peer review and dialogue, poster and PowerPoint presentations, small and large group work, multiple choice questions, reflective cases and ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions.
These optional multi-mode interactive learning activities enable you to demonstrate your enhanced knowledge whilst developing new skills.
Key Facts
Course Director: Jayne Hodgkiss Team: Dr Stephen Lawrence (Associate Professor) and Mariza Louw (assistant Professor) Find out more about the team here.
The curriculum is designed around new weekly online live tutorials with the academic team; content is also recorded to provide you with the flexibility to catch up with any missed tutorial in your own time. This learning is reinforced with online resources in six units carefully organised into key topic areas.
The curriculum is designed around new weekly online live tutorials with the academic team; content is also recorded to provide you with the flexibility to catch up with any missed tutorial in your own time. This learning is reinforced with online resources in six units carefully organised into key topic areas.
Yes, the programme is relevant and available to those working in any field of care delivery for people diagnosed with diabetes.
In recognition that you are already a healthcare professional and are responsible for your own professional development this programme no longer has compulsory formal assessments but a range of highly engaging interactive learning activities that you can participate in to lead your professional development. Therefore, students will be awarded with a Certificate of Continuous Professional Development in Improving Diabetes Care from Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, on completion of the course, confirming 300 learning hours completed for professional re-validation purposes.
There are 36 weeks of study (excluding certain holidays). This includes 36weekly live tutorials divided across 6 structured topic-based units. Allocation of tutorials dates will be dependent on cohorts.
The course is held online, there is no face-to-face teaching onsite at the University of Warwick.
Over the full duration of the course the University recommends students complete 300 hours of self-directed study to complete the course.
The preferred payment method is by a personal or company credit/debit card and an online link will be provided once your application has been received. Alternatively, for group bookings or sponsored attendance invoicing will be available. Again, details will be provide upon receipt of an application.
The fee of £912 needs to be paid in full prior to the course start. Unfortunately, stage or part payments are not possible.
Core Knowledge - Overview of Diabetes, Diagnosis, Classification and Prevalence
Aim: To provide an overview of diabetes, including the current guidance regarding diagnosis and classification of diabetes.
Learning outcomes
To describe the pathogenesis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To discuss the signs and symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To identify the role of screening and correct diagnosis for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus when considering those at risk.
Interactive learning activity: Q&A session
Prevention of Diabetes, Diabetes Remission, Nutrition and Diabetes, Lifestyle and Behaviour Modification
Aim: To examine the relevance of nutrition, nutritional status and lifestyle-associated factors, including physical activity, for people at risk of or with diabetes mellitus considering targeted therapeutic nutrition intervention and behaviour modification.
Learning outcomes
To identify risk factors associated with developing type 2 diabetes and select clinically relevant prevention strategies whilst recognising the role of a patient-centred personalised approach.
To review and evaluate current nutritional guidelines for people at risk of or with diabetes mellitus or those diagnosed with diabetes or diabetes in pregnancy.
To review and evaluate therapy options available to support diabetes remission.
To understand and interpret clinical signs and symptoms, investigations, and results within the scope of nutritional status, inadequacies or deficiencies that will influence the chronic and acute management of diabetes and reduce long-term risk and complications.
To recognise theoretical approaches helpful in understanding behavioural modification and be able to identify and apply options applicable to a primary care area of practice.
Interactive learning activity: A selection of short and quiz style questions addressing essential learning.
Aim: To examine the different oral and injectable treatment regimens for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their use within clinical practice.
Learning Outcomes
To discuss the mode of action, side effects, contra-indications and adverse reactions of glucose lowering medications routinely used in clinical practice for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To understand the role of care planning with patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
Identify which patients would benefit from insulin therapy against those who require GLP1 receptor agonists.
Recognise the different types of insulin and their uses, reflecting on the impact administration can have on glycaemic control.
Interactive Learning Activity: A series of case scenarios on treatment and management decisions.
Investigations in Diabetes and Interpretation of Results. Acute Complications - Hypoglycaemia, Hyperglycaemia, Hyperglycaemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome and Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Monitoring and Technologies
Aim : To examine the monitoring and investigations integral to diabetes management providing interpretation guidance, to ensure patient safety in diabetic emergencies.
Learning outcomes
To demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of blood glucose monitoring in diabetes.
To understand and interpret the investigations and results required to optimise the management of diabetes to reduce long-term risk.
To be able to explain the acute complications of diabetes and how to manage them effectively.
To recognise when to refer people with acute complications appropriately.
To review the guidance regarding the use of technology in the management of type 2 diabetes and develop a working understanding of the principles behind the data.
Interactive learning activity: A selection of short and quiz style questions addressing essential learning.
Diabetes Complications – Microvascular and Macrovascular (Long-term). Early detection in Primary Care, when to refer on
Aim : To develop an understanding of the impact of long-term complications, including obesity, affecting people with diabetes, and the role of primary care in managing these clinical issues.
Learning outcomes
To explore the risk factors associated with the development of long-term complications.
To describe the interventions and therapies that can prevent or delay macrovascular complications.
To describe the interventions and therapies that can prevent or delay microvascular complications.
To discuss issues related to, and the impact on the individual living with diabetes related complications.
Other Groups with Diabetes – Diabetes and Frailty. Mental Health and Diabetes (to include Depression and Diabetes Distress). Pregnancy/Gestational Diabetes. Ramadan. Children with Diabetes.
Aim : To provide a management overview for those more specialist scenarios in patients with complex needs.
Leaning outcomes
To develop an understanding of the role of primary care in the management of patients following a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.
To discuss issues relevant to primary healthcare professionals around diagnosing and managing children with diabetes mellitus.
To understand the principles involved in the assessment and management of patients both prior to and throughout Ramadan.
To review the guidance and principles ensuring patient safety relating to prescribing in older people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To understand the importance of mental health issues and the challenges they present to optimising glycaemic control.
Interactive learning activity - Short PowerPoint slide presentation to group discussion forum – Choice of topics: Improvement to care.
Cancellation Policy
A student may withdraw from a continuous professional development (CPD) course event 31 days or more before the start of the event without charge. If a student withdraws from a CPD event 30 days or less before the start of the event then they will be liable for 50% of the fee.
