My journey with diabetes

CARING FOR patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes has bought a wealth of experience over the years. I have been a registered nurse since 2008, employed to Cornwall Regional Hospital.

Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful people, ironically due to the misfortune of a diabetes diagnosis. I realised that as a nurse

I have an important role and clear responsibilities when treating patients with diabetes.

The struggles that patients with diabetes have to deal with were now evident, and I now had that personal connection. It not only made my worlds collide, but made me a better nurse. With each patient I would take the opportunity to teach self-care, emphasising the importance of diet, exercise and taking medications as prescribed.

Beyond helping to treat patients with diabetes, I have taken on the role of teaching:

• How to change health habits, including making good food choices.

• How to use a blood glucose monitor.

• How to take medications and side effects.

• Administration of insulin; and

• How to recognise symptoms of high and low blood glucose.

Today, I implore nurses to take the time to talk to your patients, encourage your patients to learn more about their condition and you will find, too, that there is so much you can learn from them. A nurse can work with diabetes patients on many levels, each of which is critical in helping millions of people who must live with the disease.