• David reflects on the professional interest shown in Advance Care Planning and End of life Care when we presented at the 2022 Diabetes Professional Care Conference, and acknowledges these are subjects shied away from.
• Advance Care Planning should be about every patient that we see
• A person living with diabetes has a higher risk of dementia, renal impairment and infections which can impact quality of life and could be considered in Advance Care Planning
• Knowing what complications can come down the road helps us to focus on the here and now and make sure when that arrives we are prepared for it
• Advance Care Planning is part of the role of clinicians working to support patients with Long Term Conditions.
• David describes conversations as Welcome Conversations rather than Difficult Conversations
• David describes the importance of interpreting statistics or data into something that is meaningful to patients.
• A Frailty Assessment (available for every patient over the age of 70) is an ideal opportunity to begin Advance Care Planning conversations
• David discusses the optimisation of Diabetes management aligned to goals of care, stressing this isn’t withdrawing care but is about avoiding medication complications.
• David shares how he has started his own Advance Care Planning or planning for the future and that since our first meeting he has his Lasting Power of Attorney in Place.

If you are a team looking to provide better end of life care, or set up a one off or complete education programme in end of life care head to www.speakformelpa.co.uk where I provide details on how I can help you. You will also find information about my Lasting Power of Attorney consultancy and the talks I offer for organisations.