Nursing Services

What is a diabetes nurse?

We are registered nurses who have a special interest in diabetes and who have done post-graduate study to increase our knowledge and skills.

The nurses who work at the Diabetes Service are registered with the New Zealand Nursing Organisation.

Services we provide for people with diabetes:

• Individual appointments - we teach people who have diabetes and their families:

1. We assess your needs and help you come up with a plan to meet your needs.

2. We teach you how to test your blood glucose levels and how to use the results to improve your diabetes control.

3. We teach you how to manage your diabetes using lifestyle changes and tablets or insulin injections.

4. We work with you to reduce your risk of complications and to get the best health outcomes you are capable of achieving.

• Group sessions in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team.

• Telephone/Email Follow-up - you are able to contact the diabetes nurses between appointments via phone and email to discuss your blood glucose levels and medication adjustment or any concerns you may have. Your nurse can often answer questions or help you adjust medication in this manner without the need for a visit.  
   
• Who is available here?
  

  Nurse Specialists:   ​	​	​
  Marion Greenslade  ​	Sharon Walsh ​	Vicky Anderson​
  	Debbie Rawiri ​	Lupe Tu'ulua​
  	​Cate Fleckney- Youth	​Tina Cook- Adolescent Nurse
  	​Kirsten Hatton- Inpatient	​

   

Community Diabetes Nursing Services

The Community Diabetes Nurse Specialists (CDNS) are available to general practice teams to:

• assist with education and management of newly diagnosed patients with Type 2 diabetes.

• work with practices to start insulin for those with Type 2 diabetes.

• help practice teams to work with patients who are hard to reach or manage.

• run education sessions for general practice teams on diabetes related topics.

• assist with increasing the number of Diabetes Annual Checks.

To access the CDNS please fax the referral to the Diabetes Centre (364 0171) marked "for CDNS". ​