Diabetes MSc alumni interview: Hanna Boëthius
Hanna Boëthius shares her experience of studying the part-time, distance-learning Diabetes MSc at Leicester Diabetes Centre and how it has benefited her professional development.
Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges worldwide. This global epidemic demands highly skilled healthcare professionals who can deliver evidence-based, patient-centred care.
The part-time, distance-learning Diabetes MSc at the University of Leicester gives you the chance to specialise in diabetes care through flexible, world-class learning. Aimed at qualified healthcare professionals with relevant experience in diabetes, the course helps learners to improve outcomes in patient care and progress their career. It is ideal for those who want to become a specialist in diabetes care while continuing their professional role.
Hanna Boëthius is one of many alumni who have flourished after learning at the world-renowned Leicester Diabetes Centre. After graduating from the MSc Diabetes by distance learning (DL) programme in November 2022, she now works as a Healthcare Consultant & Patient Leader at Boëthius Helicon GmbH in Zurich, Switzerland.
We spoke to Hanna about her experience of the Diabetes MSc and how it has benefited her professional development.
What motivated you to enrol on the MSc Diabetes (DL) programme, and how does it align with your career goals?
“I wanted to become more formally educated in clinical diabetes and to use that knowledge in both my professional and personal life. As a person living with Type 1 Diabetes who works as a healthcare consultant and patient leader, it is important for me to have this valuable proof of domain knowledge. The MSc programme allows me to bridge the gap between lived experience and evidence-based clinical practice, giving me a deeper understanding of diabetes management across the entire care pathway. It also supports my career goal of contributing more effectively to innovation, person-centred care, and healthcare transformation within the diabetes field, while ensuring that my work is grounded in robust scientific and clinical understanding.”
How did you find the experience of studying this course alongside your other commitments?
“I enrolled in the programme one third at a time, starting with the PG Cert, then continuing with the PG Diploma, and ultimately completing the full MSc. I really appreciated this step-by-step approach, as it gave me the opportunity to evaluate my progress and recommit to the journey at each stage.
“Studying alongside a demanding professional career, advocacy work, and the day-to-day realities of living with Type 1 Diabetes required careful planning, commitment, and discipline. There were certainly periods when balancing competing priorities was challenging, but the flexibility of the distance learning format made it possible to integrate my studies into my life. Rather than feeling like a separate undertaking, the course often complemented my work, allowing me to apply new knowledge directly to real-world projects and discussions.
“Looking back, the experience has been both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. It has strengthened not only my knowledge of diabetes, but also my confidence, critical thinking skills, and ability to contribute meaningfully across different areas of the diabetes ecosystem.”
What are the most valuable skills or insights you’ve gained from the programme?
“For me, the most valuable outcome has been the confidence to engage in discussions about clinical diabetes, treatment options, and the evidence behind different approaches and outcomes. The programme has given me a much stronger scientific and clinical foundation, allowing me to contribute more meaningfully in conversations with healthcare professionals, researchers, industry partners, and people living with diabetes.
“Beyond the academic knowledge, I have gained a deeper appreciation for just how individual diabetes care truly is. Although I have lived with Type 1 Diabetes for many years, the programme reinforced for me the importance of person-centred care and the need to tailor treatment decisions to each individual's circumstances, preferences, and goals.
“One insight that has stayed with me throughout the programme came from a member of the faculty, who said: "Diabetes care is an art, not a science." That statement resonated deeply with me, both personally and professionally. While science provides us with evidence, guidelines, and treatment options, the real challenge lies in applying them to the unique realities of each person's life. That balance between evidence-based medicine and individualised care is perhaps the most important lesson I will take forward from this MSc.”
How has the course influenced your professional development or clinical practice so far?
“The projects that I have been involved with after gaining my MSc are on a different planet in comparison to before! Not only has this MSc boosted my confidence, but also how I’m able to show up in the diabetes world and how I can help make diabetes a little bit easier for those living with it. Be it translating complex scientific information into understandable concepts, relating my own experience to the wider scheme of things, or advising companies and advisory boards on topics around diabetes, I have a lot to thank this MSc for.”
What would you say to someone considering applying for this course?
“Do it. Enrolling in the MSc Diabetes programme remains one of the best professional decisions I have ever made. The knowledge, confidence, and credibility I have gained have had a lasting impact on both my career and my ability to contribute meaningfully to the diabetes community.
“If you're hesitant because of the time commitment, my advice would be to not let that stop you. Most students are balancing work, families, and other responsibilities alongside their studies. It requires commitment, but the programme is designed to be manageable, and the flexibility of distance learning makes it possible to fit into a busy life.
“What makes this course truly special is the combination of a world-class faculty, evidence-based content, and a learning environment where theory is constantly connected to real-world practice. You are not just learning about diabetes, you are learning from people who are helping to shape the future of diabetes care.
“For anyone passionate about improving outcomes for people living with diabetes, whether as a healthcare professional, researcher, industry professional, or patient advocate, I would wholeheartedly recommend it.”
For more information about the part-time, distance learning MSc in Diabetes at the University of Leicester, including the course structure, entry requirements, and fees, visit the course webpage. Applications for October 2026 entry close on 14 September 2026, while applications for April 2027 entry close on 22 March 2027.
Hanna Boëthius
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