Summary
Headlines is a peer-led podcast created by the DSN Forum UK to support and educate healthcare professionals working in diabetes care. Launched in March 2023, it provides timely, evidence-based updates on policy, conferences, and real-world clinical challenges. Curated and hosted by practising diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs), it delivers on-the-go CPD through peer-led conversations and clinical viewpoints. With over 50 episodes and listeners in 60+ countries, Headlines offers inclusive and scalable education that encourages professional confidence, reflection, and engagement. The podcast is a resource for diabetes professionals across settings and was named one of the ‘15 Best Podcasts for Nurses’ by Nursing Standard.
Innovation/Novel approach to an existing problem
The need for the Headlines podcast emerged because many DSNs face increasing pressure to stay current with limited time, funding, or access to formal CPD. Traditional training formats are often inaccessible to nurses in smaller teams or remote locations. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted different ways to reach people, showing a need for flexible, on-demand learning. The DSN Forum UK launched Headlines – a peer-led podcast designed to deliver relevant, high-quality, real-time education. It is a new model for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, grounded in the reality of clinical practice. Unlike webinars or static e-learning, the podcast is: agile and responsive, with new episodes released within days of major updates; produced by three clinically practising DSNs with national leadership and KOL experience; plus curated to reflect what nurses are asking about in real time. Episodes cover clinical updates, lived experience, emerging tech, cultural considerations, and NHS policy, with leading guest speakers. The informal tone and short format promote uptake and retention. All clinical topics are framed around best practice, equality, and evidence-based care referencing key guidance and new upcoming guidance from trusted sources. The team prioritises inclusivity and multidisciplinary relevance. The podcast is accessible on major platforms, incuding NHS laptops, free of charge, and is promoted through existing networks.
Equality, Diversity and Variation
As a peer-led resource, the podcast not only seeks to reflect the diversity of the diabetes healthcare workforce, but also to amplify voices and topics that are frequently underrepresented in mainstream professional education. The Headlines team includes guests from varied backgrounds, including ethnic minority communities and a wide range of care settings. These contributions offer listeners real-world context and cultural perspectives that inform more equitable care. The podcast has dedicated episodes to topics with direct implications for underserved or vulnerable populations, helping to raise awareness of social determinants of health and encourage listeners to consider the broader context. Importantly, the team strives to reflect diversity not only in terms of identity but also professional perspective. Guest contributors have included clinicians from adult and paediatric services, as well as those based in both primary and secondary care. Plans are in place to include voices from mental health, pharmacy, and social care. Gender inclusion is also demonstrated through audience representation. With 82% of listeners identifying as female, the podcast reflects and serves the demographic makeup of the DSN workforce. The podcast is free to access, available on widely used platforms, and does not require login or subscription. This ensures accessibility across devices, regions, and levels of digital literacy. It also supports asynchronous learning.
Impact to Patient Care
Since its launch, the podcast has helped bridge the gap between frontline practice and the fast-moving developments in diabetes research, policy, and technology. By providing DSNs and other HCPs with timely, accessible, and evidence-informed content, Headlines directly supports better-informed, confident, and responsive care. It contributes to patient care by enhancing clinical decision making. The podcast allows clinicians to stay abreast of updates in real time, helping them apply the latest guidelines and innovations directly into patient pathways. Episodes are frequently timed around major diabetes events, distilling complex information into practical insights. Listeners living with diabetes and family members appreciate the insights offered into clinical decision making. This transparency helps build trust and encourages communication. The podcast helps standardise care by promoting shared understanding across the multidisciplinary team. The impact is also seen in improved communication and patient engagement. DSNs report feeling more confident in approaching sensitive or complex topics with patients. Patient-centred care is further supported by the podcast’s focus on real-world challenges. The emotional and peer support provided contributes to workforce well-being, benefitting patient care.
Results
Headlines has had over 19,000 plays across more than 150 episodes, streamed in over 60 countries, with 88% of listeners based in the UK. Data from October 2023 to March 2024 shows consistent growth in both reach and engagement. Success was measured through user surveys, engagement analytics, episode-specific feedback, and national recognition. Most popular episodes were: Inpatient Diabetes (688 plays); Exercise and Diabetes (552); Hybrid Closed Loops (520). Platforms used were Spotify (57.3%) and Apple Podcasts (33.3%), with 82% mobile users. A total of 94% said the podcast contributes to CPD, 94% found it accurate and evidence based, 76% strongly agreed it is relevant to clinical practice, 82% would strongly recommend it to a colleague, 65% strongly agree they look forward to future episodes. DSNs report using the podcast to stay informed on guideline changes, new tech, and policy. Several respondents applied insights from episodes in real-time clinical decision making. Headlines is also cost efficient, being produced voluntarily, using free platforms, without NHS funding. For zero financial investment, it delivers high-quality, CPD-eligible content directly to the workforce. Sustainability is demonstrated by its growing base of followers and inclusion in postgraduate diabetes education programmes. The podcast was also featured in: Nursing Standard’s ‘15 Best Podcasts for Nurses’ (July 2024), MillionPodcasts.com’s Top Diabetes Podcasts and Top Type 2 Diabetes Podcasts (2024).
User Feedback
Since its launch, the podcast has received strong engagement from DSNs, specialist HCPs, educators, and people living with diabetes. A listener survey (April 2025, n=17 each) collected structured feedback via social media and DSN networks. These surveys captured quantitative insights and personal reflections and revealed consistent high satisfaction (see Results). DSN Forum has also worked with industry partners regarding updates on medication supply notifications, which allows teams to stay at the forefront of change and spread mesages efficiently. Feedback has directly shaped content.
