Heartbeat: National award for nurse who helps patients understand diabetes
January 7, 2021
Lead Nurse in Paediatric Diabetes, Lizbeth Hudson has won the award Outstanding Educator in Diabetes at the 2020 Quality in Care Diabetes Awards. This award is open to both adult and paediatric diabetes teams and individuals nationwide.
Due to the current pandemic, the award ceremony was virtual, however, this didn’t dampen spirits as a variety of stakeholders were in attendance from the entrants themselves to supporters, judges and award partners.
The award of Outstanding Educator in Diabetes recognises an individual who delivers excellence in education, in a specialist or community setting whether through developing innovative teaching tools or courses; providing mentorship for other educators; or delivering and promoting externally developed training. Lizbeth was put forward for the accolade by her team members.
Rachael Jones, Paediatric Diabetes Nurse believes Lizbeth is fully deserving of the award and more than matches the criteria.
She said: “Lizbeth is always going the extra mile to help everyone better understand diabetes and more importantly, the care involved. She is kind and caring and, no patient is too much for her no matter how busy and demanding her role is.”
Rachael added: “Lizbeth is a true champion for diabetes and an invaluable asset to our wider team and the Trust.”
Lizbeth started her nurse training in 1999 and qualified a couple of years later in 2001. She worked on Lyndon 1 for five years and moved to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for 12 months, then returned to the Trust as a paediatric diabetes nurse in 2008.
Diabetes has been a big part of Lizbeth’s life as when she met her husband (in 1977) he had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes six months previously.
“Diabetes was explained to him like so – if your blood sugar goes too high you will go into a coma and if your blood sugar goes to low you will go into a coma,” said Lizabeth.
“These comments had a strong impact on my practice and how I teach patients, their families and carers how to manage their diabetes. I teach patients using visuals and explain in a way that the patients and their families can understand.”
Lizbeth has two children who were both diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. They were diagnosed at the ages of six and 10 years respectively, within 12 months of each other which was life-changing. It is also the core reason she decided to start her nurse training and why she has gone on to achieve what she has in the field of diabetes, culminating in her receiving the accolade of Outstanding Educator in Diabetes 2020.
Lizbeth was delighted to the prestigious award of Outstanding Educator in Diabetes 2020. “I was surprised by my name being announced as a finalist never mind winning it! I attended the virtual presentation and was quite emotional that I had been nominated, chosen as a finalist and voted for by my peers especially as I was up against any people who were equally deserving winners too.”
She added: “I have to say a huge thank you to all my colleagues as without them this would have been possible.”