Dr Trudi Deakin BSc (Hons) Ad Dip PGCE PhD RD

Dr Trudi Deakin qualified as a dietitian in 1993, specialised in paediatric diabetes in 1994 and became a diabetes specialist dietitian (adults/children) in 1996. Enrolment on a teacher training course in 1996 resulted in a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) to be awarded in 1998.   Concentrating on structured patient education, Dr Deakin began a randomised controlled trial ‘expert patient education versus routine treatment (X-PERT)  in 2001 whilst studying for a doctorate in diabetes at the University of Leeds. She also undertook a Cochrane systematic review evaluating group-based diabetes education programmes.

Dr Deakin is currently a member of:

Trudi was nominated as a Woman of Achievement at the Women of the Year Awards 2010.

Trudi has challenged traditional methods of diabetes care and has created the revolutionary and ground-breaking X-PERT Programme, a six-week structured education programmefor people with diabetes, based on the theories of patient empowerment, discovery learning and patient-centred care. The programme is designed to equip people with diabetes with the knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage their condition. The programme does not focus on prescription, dictation and reprimand; instead, it offers a fun way of learning about and understanding diabetes, using visual aids and discovery learning and enabling individuals to make their own informed decisions.

Further development of structured patient education to meet the need of all people with long-term conditions offers a real opportunity to make a difference!