The Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Irish Diabetes Nurse Specialist Association was held on 30 September and 1 October 2005. It took place in the Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin. Novo Nordisk supported the conference. Over 100 delegates attended.

Dr James O’Neill, a Cardiologist, gave the first lecture of Friday’s programme on heart failure and diabetes. It was a very informative talk. Dr O’Neill highlighted the need for closer co-operation between our two specialities for the benefit of the patients attending both our services.

Ms Mary O’Scannaill, a Diabetes Nurse Specialist, and Ms Cathy Breen, a Dietitian (both based at St Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown), gave the next lecture. They outlined their experience of setting up and running a Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme. The benefits to the patients and the resources needed to run such a programme were discussed. It was a very thought-provoking lecture and prompted a lot of discussion.

The final lecture was an update on the PREDICTIVE study, given by Dr Donna Sexton. It was interesting to hear the experiences of the use of insulin detemir (Levemir; Novo Nordisk) in other countries.

On Saturday morning, Ms Nell McDowell, a Paediatric Diabetes Nurse Specialist, and Dr Colm Costigan, an Endocrinologist (both based at Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin), gave a comprehensive session on the paediatric management of diabetes. Particular emphasis was given to the need to individualise care based on the child’s stage of development and the needs of the family as a whole.

This session was followed by the Annual General Meeting. Rita Forde (Chairperson) and Pat Keenan (Secretary) stepped down from the executive this year. Sonia Browne and Jennifer Clarke were elected and welcomed onto the executive. I would like to thank both Rita and Pat for all the hard work they have done for the association. Finally, as the new Chairperson, I will endeavour to live up to the high standards set by my predecessors.