Debbie qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1992 at Ipswich Hospital working in elderly medicine; this led to her developing an interest in diabetes. She joined primary care as a Practice Nurse in 1996 which included diabetes care as part of her job role. Progressing on to Lead Diabetes Nurse in Thetford. In 2019 Debbie joined Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as a Diabetes Specialist Nurse Facilitator supporting Norfolk Primary Care Practices. During covid Debbie was moved to Diabetes Inpatient Specialist Nurse supporting patients in the hospital, being part of the team that won Excellence in Patient Care award 2021 and continued with that job role. She is also working in the clinics at the Elsie Bertram Diabetes Centre.

She is passionate about individualised care, the participation of patients in their treatment choices, patient safety and improving care.

She is a committee member of DISN UK, RCN Diabetes Steering Forum, Co-Lead of Norfolk Health Professionals Diabetes Forum, Committee member of Diabetes & Primary Care Editorial Board, former committee member of PCDS, part of a Changing Labs team with Diabetes UK which was tackling inequality. Debbie has been involved in regional diabetes education events, contributed to glucose meter research, and taken part in podcast on BMJ learning.