Meet Jo, one of our Clinical Nurse Diabetes Educators. In recognition of National Diabetes Week and International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, Jo shares an insight into the role of a Nurse Educator, and how to recognise the signs of diabetes. 

I have been a nurse for 28 years, and had a long-life dream to become a nurse from a young age. 

As a Nurse Educator, I help to support and educate people with their diabetes self management. Nurse Educators aim to empower people with diabetes to gain the information, knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence they need to adapt to life with diabetes.

The ability to assist and guide people with diabetes through education and promoting health within a community has always been a big focus of mine. Early in my career, I was lucky enough  to be given the opportunity to work with a diabetes nurse and realised the impact that you can make, as an educator, to assist people to achieve their health goals. 

Working through COVID-19 has been challenging but it has presented us with opportunities to adapt through technology, to enable patients to continue to attend appointments. With all that it happening, it is important not to ignore existing health issues. We are reminding people to be healthy and stay active; and recognise the signs and symptoms of diabetes:

 The 3 T’s

1. Tired – unexplained or excessive fatigue
2. Thirsty – a thirst that can’t be quenched
3. Toilet – going to the toilet a lot

It only takes a minute to get checked.