Tribute to nurses in diabetes care
OVER THE decades, assessments of healthcare delivery in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have always demonstrated a more ready interaction between nurses and patients – much more so than any other member of the healthcare team.
It is that understanding that has helped to propel the development of nurse educators, who assist integrally in the administering and monitoring of the management regimes. This has been especially so in the area of diabetes, wherein a category of diabetes nurse educators was introduced in the 1980s; and studies have shown that this category of individual has made a positive difference in the meting out of care.
This has redounded to a better patient response in adhering to management guidelines, with a marked improvement in monitoring indices such as blood sugar and A1c levels, blood pressure, heart, nerves and kidney functions.
In addition to the nurse in the general clinic and health centres, there are those who have specialised and brought a greater depth to their assistance in patient care. The nurse practitioner, nurse anaesthetists, cardiac and dialysis interventions, wound care, counselling – in other words, the nurse has become a comprehensive care giver for diabetes and other NCDs.
More power to them!
Mind you, with that all-embracing stance, they must be wary of becoming subject to the ‘white-coat syndrome’ which, especially in the Caribbean, has caused less than fulsome interchanges between doctor and patient – hence I pray for a mutually beneficial patientnurse equilibrium.
And so, in recognition of the integral and seminal roles being performed, the Diabetes Association of Jamaica joins the over 200 national associations worldwide, represented by the International Diabetes Federation, in celebrating our nurses on this hallowed day in the diabetes calendar – November 14; the birthdate of the discoverer of insulin, Sir Frederick Banting, a surgeon who in 1920 led the successful investigating team of physiologist John McLeod, student Charles Best and biochemist James Collip.
PROF THE HON ERROL MORRISON, OJ, MD, PhD Hon (Life) President, Diabetes Assn of Jamaica