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Medical specialties

Endocrinology and Diabetes Diploma

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An evidence-led diploma in endocrinology and diabetes: how to diagnose and treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes, from first-line sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and diabetic emergencies, and how to manage thyroid, calcium, adrenal, pituitary and reproductive hormone disorders.

Twenty-five weekly sessions across five modules take you from type 2 diabetes and protecting the heart and kidneys, through type 1 diabetes, technology and emergencies, to thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pituitary disease, pregnancy and situations such as fasting in Ramadan, anchored on guidance from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the European societies and taught live by practising specialists you can question.

Course director
To be announced
Format
25 live weekly sessions on Zoom, in 5 modules
Dates
Confirmed when enrolment opens

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X-ray of an upper arm showing the circuitry of a continuous glucose monitoring sensor worn on the skin.
Image: radiograph of a continuous glucose monitor on the upper arm by Hellerhoff via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Who it is for

Senior trainees, fellows and early-career consultants in endocrinology and diabetes, and physicians, GPs and allied specialists who manage diabetes and hormone disorders, worldwide.

The programme

25 one-hour sessions in 5 modules, each with its learning objectives. This is the draft programme: the course director reviews and refines it before enrolment opens, so session titles may change.

Module 1 · Sessions 1 to 5Type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic risk

  1. 1. Diagnosing and classifying diabetes

    • Interpret HbA1c and glucose results, including situations where HbA1c is unreliable
    • Classify a new diagnosis of diabetes using clinical features, islet antibodies and C-peptide
    • Recognise features that suggest monogenic or pancreatic diabetes and arrange the right test
    • Explain the stages of early type 1 diabetes and what a positive antibody screen means for the patient

  2. 2. First-line management and remission of type 2 diabetes

    • Agree an individualised HbA1c target with a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
    • Start metformin with an SGLT2 inhibitor in line with the current NICE type 2 diabetes guideline
    • Explain diabetes remission through weight loss using the DiRECT trial evidence
    • Compare the NICE and the 2026 ADA/EASD approaches to first-line treatment

  3. 3. Cardiorenal protection: SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists

    • Identify people with type 2 diabetes who need an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist for organ protection
    • Summarise what the kidney and cardiovascular outcome trials show for each drug class
    • Combine glucose-lowering, blood pressure and lipid treatment into one risk-reduction plan
    • Adjust glucose-lowering treatment safely as kidney function declines

  4. 4. Intensifying treatment: incretin therapies and insulin

    • Choose the next treatment when HbA1c stays above target on first-line therapy
    • Start and titrate basal insulin in type 2 diabetes
    • Counsel on the side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and tirzepatide
    • Recognise when to reduce or stop glucose-lowering drugs in frail older people

  5. 5. Preventing and managing complications: eyes, feet, nerves and kidneys

    • Stratify foot risk and arrange urgent referral for active foot disease
    • Treat painful diabetic neuropathy and recognise autonomic neuropathy
    • Screen for diabetic kidney disease with eGFR and urine albumin to creatinine ratio
    • Explain the retinopathy screening pathway and when results need urgent eye review
Module 2 · Sessions 6 to 10Type 1 diabetes, technology and emergencies

  1. 6. Type 1 diabetes in adults

    • Set up a basal-bolus insulin regimen with carbohydrate counting
    • Refer adults with type 1 diabetes to structured education and explain its benefits
    • Manage cardiovascular risk in adults with type 1 diabetes
    • Explain who may be offered teplizumab and what the evidence shows

  2. 7. Diabetes technology: CGM, pumps and hybrid closed loop

    • Interpret an ambulatory glucose profile using time in range targets
    • Identify adults who meet NICE criteria for a hybrid closed loop system
    • Troubleshoot common pump and sensor problems
    • Plan safe use of personal diabetes technology during a hospital admission

  3. 8. Hypoglycaemia

    • Treat hypoglycaemia in and out of hospital following UK inpatient guidance
    • Assess hypoglycaemia awareness and reduce the risk of severe episodes
    • Advise on driving and hypoglycaemia using national rules
    • Investigate hypoglycaemia in a person without diabetes

  4. 9. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state

    • Diagnose and treat diabetic ketoacidosis using current UK guidance
    • Manage the hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state, including fluid and sodium targets
    • Recognise euglycaemic ketoacidosis in people taking SGLT2 inhibitors
    • Plan discharge to prevent a repeat admission with ketoacidosis

  5. 10. Inpatient and perioperative diabetes care

    • Manage glucose during surgery and procedures using current UK inpatient guidance
    • Treat steroid-induced hyperglycaemia in hospital
    • Apply the 2025 UK consensus on GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors before elective procedures
    • Plan a safe discharge for a person whose diabetes treatment changed in hospital
Module 3 · Sessions 11 to 15Thyroid, parathyroid and calcium

  1. 11. Hypothyroidism and thyroid function tests

    • Interpret thyroid function tests, including patterns caused by assay interference and non-thyroidal illness
    • Decide when to treat subclinical hypothyroidism
    • Adjust levothyroxine for persistent symptoms, pregnancy and interacting medicines
    • Recognise and manage myxoedema coma

  2. 12. Hyperthyroidism and thyroid eye disease

    • Distinguish Graves' disease, toxic nodular disease and thyroiditis using tests and scans
    • Choose between antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and surgery with the patient
    • Monitor antithyroid drugs and recognise agranulocytosis
    • Assess thyroid eye disease activity and severity and refer urgently when sight is threatened

  3. 13. Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer

    • Select thyroid nodules for fine needle aspiration using ultrasound risk scoring
    • Interpret thyroid cytology results and plan the next step
    • Explain risk-adapted treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer, including active surveillance
    • Set TSH targets and follow-up after thyroid cancer treatment

  4. 14. Hypercalcaemia and primary hyperparathyroidism

    • Investigate hypercalcaemia to separate parathyroid from non-parathyroid causes
    • Treat acute severe hypercalcaemia
    • Select people with primary hyperparathyroidism for parathyroid surgery
    • Recognise familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and avoid unnecessary surgery

  5. 15. Hypocalcaemia, hypoparathyroidism and vitamin D

    • Treat acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia safely
    • Manage chronic hypoparathyroidism, including calcium and active vitamin D targets
    • Prevent and treat hypocalcaemia after thyroid and parathyroid surgery
    • Identify vitamin D deficiency and hypomagnesaemia as causes of low calcium
Module 4 · Sessions 16 to 20Adrenal, pituitary and water balance

  1. 16. Adrenal insufficiency and steroid safety

    • Diagnose primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency with the right tests
    • Recognise and treat adrenal crisis immediately
    • Plan glucocorticoid tapering and assess recovery of the adrenal axis
    • Teach sick day rules and emergency steroid use to patients

  2. 17. Adrenal incidentalomas, Cushing's syndrome and phaeochromocytoma

    • Work up an adrenal incidentaloma with imaging and hormone tests
    • Select and interpret screening tests for Cushing's syndrome
    • Test for phaeochromocytoma and prepare a patient safely for surgery
    • Decide which adrenal masses need multidisciplinary team review

  3. 18. Primary aldosteronism and endocrine hypertension

    • Identify people with hypertension who should be screened for primary aldosteronism
    • Interpret the aldosterone to renin ratio, including the effect of medicines
    • Explain when adrenal vein sampling and surgery are offered
    • Recognise other endocrine causes of hypertension

  4. 19. Pituitary tumours and hypopituitarism

    • Assess a pituitary mass for hormone excess, hypopituitarism and visual compromise
    • Treat prolactinoma and manage dopamine agonist side effects
    • Diagnose acromegaly and explain the criteria for remission
    • Recognise pituitary apoplexy and start emergency treatment

  5. 20. Sodium and water: hyponatraemia and arginine vasopressin disorders

    • Classify hyponatraemia using volume status and urine tests
    • Treat severe symptomatic hyponatraemia without overcorrection
    • Diagnose and treat the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis
    • Recognise arginine vasopressin deficiency and manage it safely in hospital
Module 5 · Sessions 21 to 25Reproductive endocrinology, pregnancy and special situations

  1. 21. Male hypogonadism and testosterone therapy

    • Confirm male hypogonadism with correctly timed testosterone measurement
    • Distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism and investigate the cause
    • Start and monitor testosterone replacement safely
    • Advise men who use anabolic steroids on the risks and on stopping

  2. 22. Polycystic ovary syndrome and hirsutism

    • Diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome using the 2023 international guideline criteria
    • Screen women with polycystic ovary syndrome for diabetes and cardiovascular risk
    • Treat hirsutism and irregular periods
    • Identify features that suggest an androgen-secreting tumour or non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia

  3. 23. Diabetes and thyroid disease in pregnancy

    • Plan pre-conception care for women with pre-existing diabetes
    • Diagnose and treat gestational diabetes following NICE NG3
    • Adjust thyroid treatment before and during pregnancy
    • Arrange postnatal follow-up after gestational diabetes and postpartum thyroiditis

  4. 24. Diabetes in special situations: Ramadan, older age and cancer treatment

    • Assess fasting risk and adjust treatment for a person with diabetes who plans to fast in Ramadan
    • Set relaxed targets and simplify treatment for frail older people
    • Manage hyperglycaemia caused by steroids and other cancer treatments
    • Recognise endocrine side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors

  5. 25. Complex case decisions and running a diabetes and endocrine service

    • Apply the course to complex cases in a panel discussion
    • Design a pathway that uses virtual clinics and advice and guidance safely
    • Plan transition from paediatric to adult diabetes care
    • Build a personal plan for continuing development in endocrinology and diabetes

What the diploma includes

  • 25 live sessions on Zoom, one evening a week, with recordings for the weeks you miss.
  • Practising specialists teaching live, so you can put your questions to them.
  • Weekly MCQs and a final written assessment.
  • A digital certificate carrying your final classification.

Lead or teach the Endocrinology and Diabetes Diploma

We are looking for a course director and faculty from the specialty. Sessions are one hour in the UK evening, live on Zoom, and paid.

Apply to teach