Skip to main content

World Diabetes Day - From Nurse to Superhero


 

Every year on the 14th November the world turns blue in support of the millions of diabetics worldwide. This year is no different. Right now millions of superheroes get ready to don their capes from carers, to parents, to diabetic teams to friends and family and most importantly diabetics themselves.

This year the theme is the ‘Nurse and Diabetes’ which celebrates the truly wonderful work millions of nurses do in support of individuals with diabetes, but I ask you this ‘What defines the definition of a nurse?’.

I ask you to look at the cover photo of this story and study it for a few moments. As you do ask yourself these questions, what do these ladies have in common? Is one more qualified than the others?


Ready to move on… 

To answer your question what these ladies all have in common is they all care for someone with Type One diabetes.

First the Support worker who for the last two years has cared for me, a type 1 diabetic of 27 years. Every visit she reminds me to check my bloods hourly sometimes more if needed, assists getting me sugar if my blood is low, running to grab my insulin from the fridge when I run out and being my support when my diabetes just gets too much for me at times.

Next the healthcare assistant that goes from door to door giving diabetics their insulin injections. Checking that their blood sugars are stable, making sure their HBA1C is in range. Checking on their wellbeing and being there for them when they can’t get to see anyone.

Finally my mum who for 27 years, has cared for me and my diabetes, has had endless sleepless nights checking my blood sugar, making sure they don’t dip too low and I slip into a coma, sitting at my bedside in intensive care as my diabetes spirals too high out of control as my body cannot fight off another infection.

Only one of these ladies is qualified, but does that make the other two less capable? In my eyes they are all nurses as they all look after me in their own unique way.

JDRF Theme

Whilst the national theme for every diabetic association is Diabetes and the Nurse, JDRF has its own campaign it runs every year called #type1superheros and recognises the fact that having diabetes is a big deal and at times we need our own superheroes around us in the disguises of friends and family, teachers and pupils and work colleagues and healthcare assistants.

The ladies in the picture above may not be qualified nurses but they are all superheroes.

How you can help!

World Diabetes Day is celebrated on the 14th November, I am asking you to please spread the word. Please click on the link below where nearer the time you will be able to download posters and add a social media filter. Please get your superheroes outfit out for someone you know with diabetes and you too can become a #type1superhero.

To find out more about the work of JDRF and world diabetes day please visit their website. https://jdrf.org.uk/world-diabetes-day-2020

 

To find out more about my story please keep an eye out for my next blog.

Written By: Victoria-Jayne Scholes

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Slater & Gordon Redefines Diversity

By Victoria-Jayne Scholes Remote Working Alicia Alina (40) is the Chief People Officer for leading law firm Slater & Gordon . Although she has only been in her position for ten months she has certainly made her mark. One of her visions, initiatives and big changes for the business is remote working. Escalated by Covid-19, this is something that she has advised will continue long after the pandemic. Alicia’s vision has been backed by a very forward thinking board who allows her to express her ideas and run with them. The trial of remote working has been immensely successful and in a recent engagement survey with staff most of them asked for remote working to be made permanent. On listening to their staff this is what they have done. One area this will help with is diversity, especially disability. Alicia informed me “There is no sense of inequality and it treats everyone the same. It allows them to make decisions that is right for them”. Come September when the lease ends on...

Wheelchair Users Guide to Visiting the Supreme Court

  Being a law student and never having been to the Supreme Court, it was something at the top of my ‘to do’ list. Now for any wheelchair user the first step is preparation so I rang up the enquiries line at the Supreme Court to make sure I could gain access first and to see what I could and couldn’t take in.   Upon phoning, I was greeted by a lovely cheery lady on the other end of the phone who could not have been more helpful and advised that gaining access was not a problem. Step one, tick Some court buildings, especially when court is in session, do not allow phones or food to be taken in. Luckily, the Supreme Court do allow these things, within guides of course!   Step two, tick So planning the day precisely, packing everything but the kitchen sink into my bag, booking my support worker for a very long day and booking the taxi to get me there, I set off on my journey. Step three, tick. Preparation is key! Now the next bit of information, whilst is slightly e...