As I step into the role of Chair of the RCN Diabetes Forum, I have taken time to reflect on the past year and the breadth of work delivered by the forum committee. It has been a year marked by sustained effort, strong professional commitment, and a clear determination to strengthen the voice of diabetes nursing across the UK.

I feel both privileged and mindful of the responsibility that comes with this role. The forum committee is made up of knowledgeable, committed nursing staff who continue to give their time and expertise alongside demanding clinical and professional roles. My position as Chair is to support, coordinate and help steer the committee through RCN processes, but it is the committee’s collective energy, reliability and willingness to engage that truly drives the forum forward. I would like to record my sincere thanks to every committee member for their contribution throughout 2025.

Before looking ahead, it is important to acknowledge the work of our outgoing Chair, Michelle Turner. Michelle’s leadership over recent years has had a lasting impact on the forum and its profile within and beyond the RCN. Her focus on tackling stigma, addressing health inequalities and promoting physical activity has translated into tangible outcomes. These include the RCN signing up to the global End Diabetes Stigma campaign, the development of swimming as an RCN-endorsed exercise campaign, and the establishment of the RCN Diabetes Forum conference at RCN headquarters. Michelle has been instrumental in building partnerships, connecting people, and ensuring diabetes nursing remains visible and influential. While I am honoured to take on the role of Chair, Michelle will be greatly missed, and I wish her every success in her future work. I have no doubt she will remain connected to the forum in the future.

The achievements of the forum in 2025 are extensive. A significant highlight was the RCN Diabetes Conference held at RCN London HQ in February, which brought together more than 80 delegates. The programme explored diagnosis, insulin management, stigma and lived experience, and provided a valuable opportunity for nurses to learn, connect and feel recognised for their contribution to diabetes care. There is already interest in returning to a face-to-face format in 2026.

Education and professional development have remained central to the forum’s activity. The DISN UK webinar on enteral feeding and insulin supported over 100 secondary care professionals. Collaboration with the Public Health Forum resulted in a well-attended webinar on physical activity, drawing 145 participants. The EDEN continuous glucose monitoring webinar series reached audiences across healthcare support workers, secondary care and primary care. The feedback from these sessions has been strong enough to support plans for a further series next year.

Representation and external engagement have also been a consistent priority. The Acting Chair led a session for the Diabetes UK Professional Interest Network on nurse specialists and substitution, supported by the RCN UK Professional Lead for Long-Term Conditions. The forum contributed to the Obesity Alliance and presented its neurodiversity resource at the Diabetes Professional Conference to more than 80 delegates. Committee members ensured nursing perspectives were represented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference, the Diabetes Professional Care Conference, and the Diabetes Africa National Conference, where direct engagement with members also took place.

Collaborative working has continued to strengthen. The forum has worked closely with Diabetes UK, providing feedback on the gestational diabetes traffic light tool and conference programming. Links with EDEN have been reinforced through webinars and site visits, engagement with Diabetes Africa has been maintained, and annual discussions with TREND have continued. Several key projects were delivered and formally closed this year, including the Diabetes Essential Update on diagnosis, the 5 S’s of diabetes and pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes, the EDEN CGM webinar series, and the development of a dedicated neurodiversity resource, now published in the British Journal of Nursing.

Taken together, this work reflects a year of sustained commitment and thoughtful collaboration. It demonstrates what can be achieved when nurses come together through a forum to influence practice, education and policy within their specialist area.

As I begin my term as Chair, I look forward to continuing to support the committee and building on this strong foundation. I am also pleased to welcome Debbie into the role of Vice Chair for 2026. There is much more to do, and I am confident that the RCN Diabetes Forum will continue to play a vital role in advancing diabetes nursing and improving care for people living with diabetes.