DIABETES SPECIALIST NURSE

Diabetes Nurse Band 5 - A New Role in the Diabetes Specialists Nursing Services in Tayside

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Diabetes1

Diabetes specialist nurse3

Qualifications, knowledge and skills3

Influencing factors in the development of Band 5 role4

The development in the Diabetes Nurse Band 5 role6

International influence6

National influence7

Professional influence8

Effect of Band 5 Diabetes on working practices and patient care10

The need for Skill Mix12

Recommendations14

References16

Diabetes Nurse Band 5 - A New Role in the Diabetes Specialists Nursing Services in Tayside

Introduction

There are a broad range of diabetic services that can be provided and they are quite complex. These services are provided by special diabetes teams, healthcare professionals and even general practitioners. People who are working for primary and secondary care services on diabetic services, their success of treatment depends on the knowledge and skills of the professional providing the service. In this context, a Diabetes Specialist Nurse (DSN) is indispensable (James 2007, p. 561). The profession dates back to 60 years and has developed over time. Care needs to be provided not only to the diabetic patient but also to their families. Moreover, they play a pivotal role in assisting the health care professionals in their services. With time people take care of their own diabetes, as well. Today, there are devices for self checking of diabetes and monitoring insulin. DSNs help these diabetic patients help themselves. With careful administration of the disease, these patients prevent any higher degree of complications that may arise due to negligence. Hence, emergency hospitals appointments are reduced (McKnight 2003, p. 6).

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease caused by a defect in the pancreas' functioning. The pancreas' ability to make enough insulin for the body is affected. There are two scenarios in this regard, either the pancreas are not producing insulin or the body fails to use the insulin properly. Insulin is a type of hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood. When the level of sugar in blood is uncontrolled, it leads to Hyperglycaemia, which is an abnormal raise in the level of blood in the sugar. If Hyperglycaemia prolongs, it can damage many of the organs in the body. For instance, it can affect the central nervous system in the body as well as the blood vessels (NHS 2004, p. 9).

There are two most common types of diabetes called Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The Type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is a form of diabetes caused by a deficiency of insulin in the body. This type of diabetes is also called the juvenile diabetes or the childhood-onset diabetes. In the Type 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin-dependent or adult diabetes, the body is unable to make effective use of the insulin provided by the pancreas. On a comparative basis, Type 2 diabetes is more common than Type 1 diabetes. In fact, approximately 90% of the diabetes patients are Type 2 diabetics. Other than these two common types of diabetes, a third type of diabetes is gestational or maturity onset ...