Adjusting to change

I have been heartened by those nurses from the Emirates who have identified and determined their own educational needs to facilitate self-care in their patients. Similarly, the papers submitted for this issue of EDN reflect the changing perspectives of diabetes nurses and their ability to rise to the challenges of the diabetes pandemic.

The nurses from Dubai reflected on their need to be proficient in their work and have professional competencies defined as part of a developed career structure. This development is happening in many countries and Hill's paper on the progress of the UK Diabetes Competency Framework shows the way forward for all levels of diabetes nursing which could be adapted in many European countries. Similarly, nurses everywhere now recognise the need for skills in counselling and motivational interviewing and Hunt's overview on the latter is a great introduction to this subject.

Diabetes nurses also need to be proactive in terms of screening and education. We have two papers here which demonstrate how nurses can successfully use self-help guidance strategies for people with diabetes who have emotional disorders (Meeuwissen), and also for those with diabetic retinopathy (Rothmann). Finally, Sherifali describes a community-based programme which builds upon existing structures to facilitate self-management behaviours.

Diabetes nurses in Europe and beyond – such as the group I met in Dubai – are focused upon the professional direction needed to face the growing diabetes epidemic. We might not yet be able to change the direction of this global diabetes scourge, but we can certainly adapt our professional competencies, knowledge and skills to contribute to the best possible outcome for all people with diabetes.