I qualified with a Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) degree in 2002, with my first role as a staff nurse on the renal and diabetes ward, and quickly realised I knew nothing! A post-graduate diploma module in diabetes nursing soon followed to improve my skills and knowledge and fuelled my passion for all things diabetes.

I was fortunate to become a DSN in 2009, mostly as DISN at the time, and developing skills with ante-natal, diabetic nephropathy and insulin pumps and gaining independent prescriber status.

I have experienced primary care in a new role as a DSN for a GP cluster, supporting experienced nurses with complex diabetes management and mentoring those new to diabetes.

Education of patients and fellow HCP’s is where my interests lie. I am DAFNE and XPERT educator, and completed my PGCE in 2018 to aid with adult learning principles.

I am guest lecturer at Bangor and Glyndwr universities and co-ordinate quarterly study days for inpatient staff .

I have also completed Msc Diabetes Practice at Swansea University in 2020, and have been a prescriber since 2010.

I am now the Lead DSN for the Central area of BCUHB, leading a team of both primary and secondary care DSN’s.