The impetus was in part through the changing role of diabetes service provision and the recognition that specialist diabetologists have particular responsibilities and roles that extend beyond clinical diabetes – notably their input to acute and general medicine and endocrinology. Subsequent to its establishment a new charity, the ABCD Diabetes Care Trust, was also created with the purpose of promoting best practice and education in the provision of specialist services for people with diabetes. ABCD is now securely established with over 50% of NHS consultant diabetologists and over 40% (and growing) of higher trainees as members.

Its main achievements to date have been with collaborative surveys on specialist diabetes services and retinal screening, demonstrating continued regional disparities in service provision, and a disconnection between the process and holistic diabetes–opthalmology care after detection of important retinopathy, novelty UK certificate. A national diabetes audit programme has been established covering areas such as acute coronary syndrome glycaemic care, out-of-hospital hypoglycaemia management, inpatient glycaemic care and independent assessment of new injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues.