With one in six hospital beds occupied by someone with diabetes, it’s vital that nurses in all specialties know how to care for this growing patient group

Diabetes nurse consultant Ruth Miller knows only too well that people with diabetes are dying because of a lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals. She recalls the inquest of a young woman, who had presented at an emergency department disorientated and with unexplained injuries. The woman had type 1 diabetes and schizophrenia. She was admitted under the care of the mental health team but was not referred to the diabetes team. After returning home, she was found dead, having had a hypoglycaemic episode.