About us

The Primary Care Diabetes & Obesity Society is a professional organisation dedicated to continuous improvement in the care of people living with diabetes or obesity and associated long-term conditions.

Through our educational outputs of live and virtual events, e-Learning modules, clinical guidance and the Diabetes & Primary Care journal, we support all primary care professionals to deliver high-quality, clinically effective care, alongside acting as a professional voice representing primary care diabetes and weight management across the four United Kingdom nations and the Republic of Ireland.

Why is the PCDO Society needed now?

Since our founding in 2005 as the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS), the landscape of primary care diabetes management has altered fundamentally. Changes in population demographics and public health mean that the majority of people with diabetes seen in primary care will have at least one other long-term condition in addition to their diabetes.

In respect to type 2 diabetes, the focus has always been on holistic care to ensure the prevention and, where required, optimal management of any diabetes-related complications, but the advent of diabetes therapies with beneficial cardiorenal and metabolic outcomes means that it has never been so relevant to avoid being purely glucocentric in diabetes care. New pharmacological agents and dietary interventions mean that significant weight loss, potentially preventing type 2 diabetes development and even inducing type 2 diabetes remission, is now an option in primary care.

Recognising these developments and the need, where appropriate, to make weight management the cornerstone of treatment of type 2 diabetes and its associated comorbidities, the PCDS too has evolved and, in 2025, officially became the Primary Care Diabetes & Obesity (PCDO) Society. Our mission remains essentially the same:

“The aim of the Society is to support primary care professionals to deliver high-quality, clinically effective care, in order to improve the lives of people living with diabetes or obesity and associated long-term conditions.”

The PCDO Society represents all healthcare professionals involved in primary care diabetes and weight management, including GPs, practice and community nurses, pharmacists, diabetes specialist nurses, dietitians and podiatrists.

In addition to its key role in providing high-quality, evidence-based education to enhance care delivery, the PCDO Society acts as a key point of contact for government and other policy-making organisations for discussions that can make vital differences to the care of our patients. Together as a Society, we will:

• Share best practice in delivering quality care of diabetes, obesity and associated long-term conditions.
• Be a unique voice for all healthcare professionals working in primary care intent on improving standards of diabetes care.
• Show leadership at local, national and international levels, collaborating with all organisations involved in promoting optimal weight management and diabetes care across the UK and Ireland.
• Promote and participate in high-quality research and audit.

Join the PCDO Society

Membership is free to all healthcare professionals working in primary care. Join the largest primary care society in Europe, contribute and have a voice!

Society members will benefit from:

• High-quality education tailored to the specific needs of primary care.
• Up-to-date, evidence-based information to enhance their care delivery, including e-Learning modules, videos and podcasts, including seamless integration with the CPD centre on DiabetesOnTheNet.com.
• Networking with other professionals at local and national events, as well as online.
• The Diabetes & Primary Care journal and the Diabetes Distilled newsletter, direct to their email inbox.
• Audit and research projects designed to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes or obesity and associated long-term conditions.
• Having their views represented in consultations on national guidelines and pathways.