The exceptional work of children's diabetes nurses has been celebrated as part of this year's World Diabetes Day, with a Lincolnshire specialist receiving a top honour.
A Lifeline for Families
Becky Taylor, a paediatric diabetes nurse specialist based at Lincoln County Hospital, was the overall winner of the Great Patient Experience and Involvement Award - Acute at the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) Staff Awards last month.
She was nominated by Katie Harris, the mother of one of her patients, twelve-year-old Lily Harris from Branston. Lily was unexpectedly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after a viral infection, which caused headaches, sleep issues, and weight loss. Her GP sent her straight to hospital for stabilisation after a blood glucose and urine test.
Katie Harris explained the profound impact Becky had, stating: "We have no family history of diabetes, so this diagnosis came as a huge shock to us all. Becky became a lifeline for us, providing unwavering support from home and school visits to being available on the phone whenever needed."
Empowering Young Patients
Becky's care extended beyond medical safety, giving Lily the confidence to manage her condition as a teenager. Lily now thrives, mainly managing her diabetes herself using a blood glucose monitor and an insulin pump. She has also learned to carefully consider her food intake to calculate carbohydrate ratios.
"The staff, especially Becky, have empowered Lily to live her life whilst managing her diabetes," Katie added, praising the entire diabetes team for their brilliant support during a steep learning curve for the family.
Upon receiving her award from Caroline Landon, the group chief operating officer, Becky Taylor said: "I was honoured to receive my award and felt privileged that my care and support was truly appreciated by a patient and her family. I always strive to ensure that diabetes patients have the information, confidence and knowledge they need to manage their condition."
Team Excellence Recognised
In a further accolade for paediatric diabetes care in the region, the wider children's diabetes team was shortlisted for Clinical Team of the Year.
Their nomination highlighted the team's tireless dedication, acknowledging the challenges they overcome to support children and families. Their pioneering work includes delivering home visits, providing school education, implementing new technology, and organising peer-support events for young patients.
