2022 - 2023 Clinical Champions Community: Leading Diabetes Care Innovation
Dietitian and Diabetes MCN Manager, Dumfries and Galloway
Introduction
I'm a team lead dietitian with the diabetes team in Dumfries and Galloway. My clinical remit includes delivering and providing leadership in the areas of diabetes technology and weight management. My role also involves one day per week Diabetes MCN manager with a focus on service development and improvement.
What gifts, strengths, or unique experiences do you intend to bring to your development work?
I have an interest in quality improvement and service development. I chair the local type 2 diabetes framework meeting which involves implementing weight management pathways across the region. In the last 2 years I have successfully implemented digital and remote pathways in response to the pandemic.
I love learning about the new technology for diabetes and humble to support people living with type 1 diabetes to access technology. I have been privileged to hear stories of the difference technology makes to people’s lives and the wider positive impact for family and friends.
I have also supported the diabetes team in service development with a focus on job plans, setting up a local triage helpline and urgent slots scheduled every week.
With all the work mentioned above I like to share this where possible.
What area of change are you currently passionate about in diabetes care?
I'm passionate about increasing access to hybrid closed loop insulin pumps and collecting evidence to show real world impact.
Another area is remission of type 2 diabetes and ultimately prevention of type 2 diabetes with a focus on digital options to support.
A focus for me is supporting the diabetes team to develop responsive service rather than reactive.
What most excites you about this journey?
My motivation to achieve continuous improvement and innovation within the diabetes service encouraged me to apply for the programme. For me I'm excited to learn new or enhance skills and knowledge to support me to deliver the best outcomes possible for people living with diabetes in Dumfries and Galloway.
2015 - 2017 Clinical Champions
Specialist Diabetes Dietician, NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Sheena MacDonald is a Specialist Dietician at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary working with the diabetes and weight management teams. She is an experienced diabetes educator delivering both Desmond and Dafne structured education programmes. She was involved in the national research trial on Relative Effectiveness of Pumps Over MDI and Structured Education (REPOSE) delivering 6 courses across Dumfries and Galloway. Following this Sheena was instrumental in the development and implementation of a local insulin pump service. To raise awareness of the pump service Sheena submitted posters to the NHS Scotland event 2014/2015 on efficiency and effectiveness. To her surprise, both posters were awarded highly commended and finalist respectively.
Her goals are to ensure all people in the region have access to diabetes education with emphasis in improving the structure of care and education provided at diagnosis. Sheena feels it is important that all people requiring basal bolus insulin regimes are given carbohydrate counting awareness and skills to adjust insulin accordingly. She is keen to look at improving screening by looking at current services and how these can become integrated to provide good quality diabetes care. Overall, she is passionate that people with diabetes have access to quality diabetes care and treatment.
