Diabetes nurses provide 'life-changing' care

For Bolton Clarke client Shivani, 25, the support of specialist nurses in managing her diabetes has been life changing.

Shivani was diagnosed with brittle diabetes - meaning blood sugar swings can be severe and frequent - while pregnant with her daughter six years ago.

Having seen the effects of the disease on her parents and sister, it was a frightening time.

“When I got it, all I knew to do was hide,” she says. “I didn’t want to address it - it was my worst nightmare.”

“I was in temporary housing and it was COVID-19 so we were all struggling.”

With the support of Bolton Clarke’s Good Samaritan Fund and specialist nursing team, Shivani now self-manages her condition with nurse visits and a continuous glucose monitoring device.

“We supply the sensor through the fund and we come and change it fortnightly and check the medication regularly,” nurse Trudie says.

“It sits on the skin and detects Shivani’s blood sugar levels continuously, and we can upload the information and work with Shivani and her other health care professionals to support her health.”

“The nurses are just angels,” Shivani says. “I needed some help organising and getting into a routine.

“Anthea, the Clinical Nurse Consultant Diabetes, monitors everything and does my medication, and the nurses come every week and check my dosette box.

“Trudie always comes in with a smile and whenever she comes it means I’m happy and I know things are going to get done the right way.

“I didn’t like to do the prick tests in front of the kids. With the sensor I am a bit more open and the kids already know what it is.

“I have an app on my phone that shows my levels and there’s an alarm if they are high, and I have a logbook. This helps me to be able to understand if there’s a pattern.

“It’s really good because it helps me to not go back into my hiding or falling down days. It’s got me back on track again.”

Shivani said the cost of new sensors every fortnight would have been prohibitive without the support of Bolton Clarke donors.

“It’s extraordinary what they do – this is a life-changing thing,” she said.

This week, 9-15 July, is National Diabetes Week.

Find out more about how your donation can help people access equipment like continuous glucose monitors  here.