After hearing the RCN Diabetes Steering committee was looking for members, and following my interview I was pleased to be informed I had joined the committee.

This is an exciting opportunity to help fellow nurses improve their knowledge, support them with their learning and improve their confidence, with their care to people with diabetes. I am very passionate to support the patients, with knowledge, good nursing care and support. With the diabetes forum we have the ability to provide information online, provide articles in the magazine, webinars and conferences. I was thrilled to be able to join this committee and be part of this team.

My first strategy meeting for the Diabetes Forum was on the 6 February. I was made to feel very welcome, and had a tour around the RCN building. This was amazing to see, the building is full of history. If you ever have the chance to visit the building and are into the history of nursing, it is worth the visit. I saw the beautiful room with the charter, was able to stand on the "haunted staircase", and the pictures on display of all the previous RCN Chairs. 

The strategy day was informing the committee of what the forum had done and how far they have got with certain projects. For those of you that have been in committees you will appreciate to write up to date guidance or a new support resource, it takes time and numerous conversations and emails to achieve. Explanation of the committee member roles were explained, with support and guidance given. Planning future conference attendance and meetings was also on the agenda. I have few to attend this year representing the RCN, so will see you there.

My first task was to write this blog.

The RCN diabetes forum conference details were confirmed, and the following day I attended the conference. The conference was attended by 80 people, with nurses from all areas of diabetes care. Michelle Turner The Chair and Amanda Epps Vice Chair welcomed everyone. Amanda Epps and Callum Metcalfe -O'Shea spoke about Diagnosis- getting it right first time, this was very informative and reminded nurses that there is more than 2 types of diabetes to consider. Charlotte Gordon  spoke about Navigating Diabetes Stigma in people using wearable glucose monitoring technologies. There was a moving video and thought provoking discussion about stigma and its impact. Geraldine Gallen gave a very informative session on Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Hybrid Closed Loop. 

After lunch we had the workshops, which I was pleased to chair the Empowering health choices in type 2 diabetes by Michelle Turner and Bernadette Adeyileka-Tracz. This was very well attended and participated. The nurses made it a great discussion, and was easy to chair.

I was then honoured to give a workshop myself with Callum Metcalfe-O'Shea on Basics of insulin management. My chair was also my fellow blogger today Helena Petrisor. It was such a memorable day for me to actually take part in a RCN conference.

Professor Angus Forbes and Dr Judith Parsons discussed the challenge and Impact of stigma on people living with a long term condition and implication for nurses. Followed by Lived experience- the patients perspective panel of Amanda Epps, Tamsin Fletcher-Salt and Helena Petrisor. This was a thought provoking and honest panel, I know these people as fellow committee members, so it made the discussion even more understanding of how they cope and think about having diabetes. 

When the meeting closed I was proud to sign the 'End Diabetes Stigma' poster.

I had a memorable 2 days, and looking forward to future meetings, projects and and giving support to my fellow nurses.