Meet the team

Meet the team that will be joining our Q&A panel session. They are dedicated to supporting your diabetes education with their passion and expertise.

Dr Debbie Wake

Debbie is CEO and clinical lead at MWDH. She is a qualified consultant diabetologist and senior academic (University of Edinburgh – MBChB (Hons), BSc, PhD, Clin Ed Dip), a 2017–18 NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellow and one of nine 2019 UK Women in Innovation award winners.

Debbie is a national leader in diabetes artificial intelligence and an international leader in diabetes education. Previously, she was a health columnist for a national UK newspaper and TV doctor/presenter for STV. She has trained in business development through the Boston MIT Entrepreneurship programme, the Unlocking Ambition and Converge Challenge initiatives, and the University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator and has delivered more than £5m in innovation funding. Debbie has led MWDH since 2017, delivering a high-growth globally operating company with a best-in-class diabetes platform.

Dr Alex Bickerton

Alex has been Clinical Lead in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Yeovil District Hospital since 2007; driving a process of modernisation from delivering general diabetes care to delivering high quality specialist care.

He is a core member of the diverse stakeholder team who designed and implemented an integrated Diabetes Service for Somerset; aiming to put specialist knowledge at the fingertips of people with diabetes. In addition to working with primary care colleagues to improve the quality of diabetes care.

Alex’s specialist interests include technology in diabetes, supporting young people with diabetes as they transition from children’s to adult services and cardiovascular disease prevention, with a focus on lipids (blood fats).

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

This course is designed to help you understand type 1 diabetes. We cover the essentials—diagnosis, treatment options, and how insulin works. We also explore potential complications and how they affect the body, alongside everyday topics like travel and lifestyle choices. Live Q&A sessions with healthcare professionals are included to support your learning and give you the chance to ask questions.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes

This course covers the basics of type 2 diabetes, including diagnosis, treatment options, and how some people may be able to put the condition into remission. You'll learn about the importance of managing blood glucose, setting treatment goals, and being aware of long-term health concerns. We also offer information in the course tailored to reflect the experiences of different ethnic communities living with type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes and Technology

This course will help you learn how to use technology to manage type 1 diabetes. We'll look at continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy, including how to use sensors, interpret data, calculate insulin doses, and factor in your lifestyle. We'll also cover more advanced options like hybrid closed-loop systems and smart pens. Throughout the course, you can join live Q&A sessions on Zoom with diabetes experts who’ll lead discussions and answer your questions.

Diabetes and Ramadan

Our Diabetes and Ramadan course is designed for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who want to manage their condition safely during Ramadan. It’s available in English, Arabic, and Malay. The course covers how to assess whether it’s safe for you to fast, the potential risks for people with diabetes, guidance on what to eat for Suhoor and Iftar, how to manage physical activity, and when and how to adjust medications. You can also join live Q&A sessions on Zoom with diabetes experts in your preferred language.