As I get closer to qualifying as an adult nurse, I find myself looking back on my journey. One question keeps coming up for me: why aren’t student nurses routinely included in diabetes training?

Diabetes has become much more than just a clinical interest for me. Throughout my nursing degree, I’ve sought out every chance to learn. I’ve gone to events, joined professional groups, chatted with diabetes specialists, and tried to get hands-on experience during placements. The more I learn, the more I realise just how much there still is to know.

One thing has really stood out.

There are so many fantastic opportunities to learn about diabetes. NHS teams, charities, professional organisations, and industry partners all organise conferences, webinars, workshops, and study days. These events bring together people who really care about improving diabetes care and sharing the latest ideas.

But where are the student nurses?

Again and again, I see training advertised for registered healthcare professionals, but students are left out or just not thought of. It feels like we’re missing a huge opportunity.

After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce.

Many of us will qualify and straight away be caring for people with diabetes. No matter where we work—emergency departments, hospital wards, in the community, or in specialist teams—diabetes is everywhere. Yet, so many students finish their nursing degree having only had the teaching given in their university programme.

Talking to students at different universities, I’ve realised that diabetes education can vary a lot. Sometimes, extra learning depends on whether a lecturer is especially interested in diabetes. Some students are lucky and get passionate teachers who organise guest speakers or extra sessions. Others only get the basics.

That doesn’t seem right. Students shouldn’t have to rely on luck to learn about something this important.

Whenever I’ve been to diabetes events, I’ve never felt like students have less to contribute. In fact, I’ve found that students are often incredibly engaged. We ask questions, we’re curious, and we want to learn because we know these skills will make a difference in the care we give in the future.

I’ve been lucky to get involved with the RCN Diabetes Forum, where I’ve met inspiring healthcare professionals who have been incredibly supportive of students. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that involving students earlier benefits everyone—not just us as learners, but also the future of diabetes care.

Imagine if every diabetes conference or study day had a few spots just for students. Imagine if universities worked closely with diabetes teams to encourage attendance. Imagine if organisations recognised students as future colleagues, not just after we qualify, but right now.

I genuinely believe we would see a more confident nursing workforce and, ultimately, better outcomes for people living with diabetes.

As student nurses, we don’t expect every opportunity to be handed to us. We’re ready to learn, to give our time, and to make the most of every experience. We simply need to be invited into the conversation.

I’d love to see more organisations, universities, and healthcare professionals stand up for student involvement in diabetes education. It could make a real difference—not just to our confidence as new nurses, but to the people we’ll care for throughout our careers.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. If you’re a student, have you had opportunities to access diabetes training? And if you’re an educator or diabetes specialist, how can we work together to make these opportunities more accessible for the next generation of nurses?