I have worked in the world of diabetes for the past 25 years, and I continue to be amazed by the rapid and transformational changes in diabetes care that have taken place during this time. Living with a long term condition can be incredibly challenging, and as healthcare professionals, our role is to support individuals compassionately and consistently throughout that journey. One of the great privileges of working in diabetes care is collaborating with innovative, enthusiastic, and dedicated professionals, all driven by the same shared goal for helping people with diabetes live their best possible lives.

Before moving into academia, I spent 13 years working as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. During this time the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes fuelled my interest in the prevention of diabetes. This led to the development of a school based intervention project aimed at reducing childhood obesity, which later formed the foundation of my PhD research.

Now, in my role as a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at Bournemouth University, my passion for education is stronger than ever. I am particularly committed to enhancing diabetes education within undergraduate nursing programmes. Every nurse, regardless of their future specialty, will care for people living with diabetes and many students feel underprepared. My aim is to change this by integrating practical, realistic, and evidence based diabetes education into the core curriculum so that students leave university feeling confident and capable.

I also teach and support postgraduate learners, and I enjoy the depth, motivation, and expertise they bring to diabetes care. Whether pursuing advanced practice, leadership, or specialist roles, postgraduate nurses have enormous potential to shape change. Alongside this, I supervise masters and PhD students in their research journeys. I would love to see more nurses taking up these opportunities using their unique perspectives to design studies, drive change and innovation, strengthening the evidence base that underpins high quality practice. 

The RCN provides a powerful platform to support professional development, helping nurses transform innovative ideas into meaningful research. Nurses have insight into where improvements are needed. Yet too often, these ideas remain unspoken because nurses may lack the time, confidence, or structural support to take them forward. I would love to see more nurses designing studies, leading change, and being recognised for their vital contributions to diabetes care.

I am delighted to be joining the RCN Diabetes Forum as a committee member. It feels like the ideal place to champion the voices of nurses working in diabetes care and to help support opportunities for learning, growth, and improved care. I hope to play a key role in encouraging more nurses, not only those already in specialist posts but also students and early career nurses to get involved, share their ideas, and explore how their insights can evolve into impactful research. By strengthening nurse education and supporting nurse led research, we can enhance professional development and improve patient care.