Diabetes Nursing Service

Diabetes is a serious life-long condition; it is one of the most common chronic conditions in the world and is a growing epidemic, which if not managed can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve disease, limb amputation and blindness. It can reduce life expectancy by 10 years for Type 1 and 20 years for Type 2.

The Diabetes Specialist Nurse provides patients with up to date information, appropriate individualised education and in this way assists patients with diabetes achieve their glycaemic (and other) targets while maintaining quality of life. The Diabetes Specialist Nurse also provides patients with contact numbers for further advice and support. They also have a major role in providing training and education to all staff involved in the management of those with diabetes.

They aim to:

• Provide expert knowledge for the person with diabetes to enable them to develop self-management skills.
• Support, motivate and empower those with diabetes as they manage and control their diabetes
• Encourage those with diabetes to achieve their target (optimal) blood glucose control
• Help those with diabetes reduce the risk of acute and long-term complications.
• Liaise and refer to other aspects of the diabetes service e.g. consultants, nephrology, podiatry, dietetics, psychology

Criteria for Referral to a Diabetes Specialist Nurse

• Newly diagnosed patient with type 1 diabetes for commencement of insulin at home or at hospital (inpatient / outpatient)
• Patients with diabetes who need to initiate or change insulin regimes
• Adolescent with diabetes
• Pregnant patient with diabetes (pre-existing or gestational diabetes) Newly diagnosed patient with type 2 diabetes having particular difficulties
• Patient with type 2 diabetes switching to insulin therapy Patients with unstable / poorly controlled diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Any patient who needs crisis intervention

Referrals

Down & Lisburn Primary Care Connect Tel: (028) 9598 8000

Ards Tel: (028) 9181 8361

North Down Tel: (028) 9598 8082