World Diabetes Day: Nurses Make The Difference
This year World Diabetes Day aims to raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes.
As a highly valued member of the community, nurses do outstanding work to support people living with a wide range of health concerns. People who either live with diabetes or are at risk of developing the condition need their support.
For World Diabetes Day 2020, we asked the nurses at EDEN to share their professional journey with us, detailing the important work they provide and what it means to them.
“Happy World Diabetes Day! There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in diabetes. The possibility of remission, plus therapies that protect the cardiovascular and renal systems bring hope for the future” - Fiona Munday, Education and Research Associate, Diabetes Specialist Nurse, EDEN
Rachel Berrington
Position: Eden Educator and Diabetes Specialist Nurse. Qualified in 1997.
Area of Interest: Diabetic Foot.
Why Diabetes: I worked on the diabetic ward when I first qualified and enjoyed the challenge that it brought to me professionally. I became a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) in 2002.
I love being a DSN, I feel incredibly lucky that the people I care for allow me into their lives and share things that they might not even share with their own family.
Standout Moment: Truly, there are so many, but nothing tops the feeling of getting someone's foot healed. Also, helping someone to make the decision to lose a limb, being there to give them the education and advice to help in those more difficult decisions. Knowing they trust your advice and guidance.
Top Tip: One treatment does not fit all, we are all different and just because someone refused a treatment plan once, they might change their mind. Be open to asking again and check that they understand exactly what you are offering and why.
Mary Harrison
Position: Diabetes Nurse Educator and Research Associate. Qualified in 2003.
Area of Interest: Clinical research, Cardio-renal-metabolic multimorbidities.
Why Diabetes: It was a natural progression, after spending many years in cardiology and cardiovascular research.
To be able to combine research, education and clinical care in one post is everything for me professionally. Seeing the difference made to people living with diabetes is really humbling.
Standout Moment: My career in nursing has been amazing; it’s given me a ticket to the world, as well as world-class research and academic opportunities. But the best thing it has given me, is the privilege to be there for people when they need it most. I’ve assisted with births and been there for people when they died. That is a real privilege.
Top Tip: I don’t know that there is a top tip that would suit everyone living with diabetes or to those caring for them. Just be kind to yourself, forgive yourself bad days, enjoy the good days and know us nurses are here for you.
Fiona Munday
Position: Education and Research Associate. Qualified 1984.
Area of Interest: Type 2 diabetes, promoting diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention, primary care.
Why Diabetes: Our ‘old’ diabetes nurse asked me if I wanted to take over from her when she retired. I felt very honored as I respected her so much and all that she had done.
I love working with people to solve problems and find better solutions. Diabetes gives you an opportunity to do that, it’s rarely straight forward!
Standout Moment: I was privileged to receive some awards last year on behalf of EDEN, it was a fantastic feeling to be rewarded for the hard work that the team had done.
Top Tip: Try and build a rapport with your patients, to form a therapeutic bond. They’ll trust you and you can work together.
James Ridgeway
Position: Education and Research Associate. Qualified 2014.
Area of Interest: Older person and frailty, mental health and Type 1 diabetes.
Why Diabetes: I realised that I wanted to specialise in diabetes in 2012 when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A previous misdiagnosis, encouraged me to work in the speciality to enhance diabetes care and make a difference.
I really love my job and get so much enjoyment from it, I am in a privileged position where I provide diabetes education to healthcare professionals through my EDEN role and also provide diabetes care to patients through my diabetes nurse position with the diabetes inpatient team.
Standout Moment: I am proud of all my nursing achievements but the one that stands out is a simple one, when I provided care for a patient during the last days of their life.
The patient had not had a shave and after obtaining consent from the family, I spent five minutes shaving him. The family said thank you for taking the time to provide care. It was their most memorable and defining moment of his end of life care during his hospital stay.
Top Tip: Look at the person not just the numbers.