NEWS
The first Diabetes Specialist Nurse Forum
has taken place at the Leicester Diabetes
Centre. Founded by Amanda Epps,
diabetes specialist nurse at Medway
NHS Foundation Trust, the forum (which
took place in early June) was supported
by Diabetes UK. The forum's aim is to
provide support and allow exchanges of
views and information.
Epps (pictured right) was inspired
to start up the forum after attending the
Diabetes UK Professional Conference for
the first time this year. She says, "I was
amazed at how much good work was
being done by DSNs around the country.
I wanted to provide a space where
the sharing of practice could continue
between peers. Diabetes UK supported
NURSE FORUM INAUGURATED
the first meeting by letting us use one
of their change labs, and they changed
the agenda specifically to meet the DSN
forum needs."
Epps also says that she hopes that the
forum will, "Encourage the next generation
of nurses into diabetes. I want to ensure
current DSNs are able to easily connect
to their their peers around the country,
thereby reduce duplication of work, share
best practice, and improve diabetes care
across the UK and beyond."
Future forum events will focus on nurse
educational tools and include a series of
sharing good practice presentations.
"The first meeting was very exciting,"
says Epps, "The energy in the room was
inspiring, we recorded a video which
will be released soon showing diabetes
nurses talking about why they love their
job. The aim is to inspire nurses to follow
diabetes care as a career path. We are
planning regional meetings dates and
venues, which will be communicated in
the near future. "
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
Insulin pill may be on the horizon for
diabetics according to a recent report in
The Guardian, which said that a research
team successfully administers insulin to
rats in capsule form, raising hopes that a
version for humans could be developed.
The Guardian.
BCG vaccine & T1D
According to a report by Alexandra
Thompson, Health Reporter for the
MailOnline, "The BCG vaccines may
be a solution to Type 1 diabetes, new
research suggests. Three years after
having the jabs, which protect against
tuberculosis (TB), patients' blood-sugar
levels are near those of people without
the condition, a US study found today.
Previous research suggests BCG vaccines
produce substances that prevent immune
cells attacking the body's tissues. Type 1
diabetes occurs when the body launches
an attack on the pancreas, preventing it
from producing insulin. BCG vaccines
may also increase glucose uptake by cells,
causing blood-sugar levels to decrease,
the research adds. The researchers, from
the Massachusetts General Hospital, The
findings were published in the journal npj
Vaccines.
Dr Mihai Netea, from Radboud
University, the Netherlands, who was not
involved in the study, commented, "The
effects and the proposed mechanism
demonstrated are exciting and add to
the emerging consensus that the BCG
vaccine can have a lasting and valuable
impact on the immune system." He
added that further research may lead
to the prevention and treatment of both
infections, like TB, and autoimmune
conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes.
See the MailOnline story HERE.
For further reporting by The Telegraph
HERE.
NOT TOO LATE
TO NOMINATE
The Quality in Care Awards 2018
nominations are still open to entries, If you
know of someone doing a great job in the
arena of diabetes care, then simply get an
entry form, fill it in and maybe you can get
someone the recognition they deserve.
Categories are Diabetes Healthcare
Professional of the Year; Outstanding
educator in diabetes; The People's Award.
www.qualityincare.org