Hospital Hub: Spotlight Q&A with Siobhan Hatten, CF-related Diabetes Nurse Specialist, SVUH
CF
Ireland were lucky to have a virtual Q&A with nurse Siobhan Hatton from St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH). Siobhan is the only CF-related Diabetes nurse specialist working in Ireland. Liz Jacques, Regional Development Officer, had a virtual ‘sit down’ with Siobhan to ask her more about her role and her insights into this specialist area of nursing.
Tell us a little about your educational and professional background and how you came into your current role? I graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with a BSc in Nursing in 2007 and during my nursing training in St. Vincent’s University Hospital I worked on the cystic fibrosis ward. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience there. When I started my nursing career in St. Vincent’s University Hospital I requested to work on the CF ward. From here I gained an interest in diabetes and its effects on people with CF, both physically and emotionally. In 2009 I was offered a position within the SVUH Diabetes Centre and completed my Higher Diploma in Diabetes while working here. During my time working in the Diabetes Centre, the complexity of Cystic Fibrosis related diabetes was noted. In 2015, I was appointed the first dedicated Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist (CFRD CNS) in Ireland. How long have you been in your post? Five years CFRD is a unique form of diabetes, different to type 1 and type 2 DM. How would you explain this difference and what does this mean for people living with CFRD in terms of health outcomes? CFRD is a unique form of diabetes specific to people with Cystic Fibrosis. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People with Type 1 Diabetes are dependent on insulin injections. Usually people are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when they are younger. People with Type 2 Diabetes may not make enough insulin and/or may have some insulin resistance, where the cells do not allow the insulin to work effectively. Often Type 2 Diabetes occurs in older people or adults who are overweight. CFRD can share certain aspects of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. In CF, sticky mucus can cause scarring to the pancreas which creates a lack of insulin being produced or released. Insulin resistance can also occur during illness, steroid use or pregnancy in CF.
CFRD
CFRD can be complicated due to the high calorie, high protein and high fat diet that is required in order to maintain weight in CF. This is very different to the advice given to people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to confusion for some people.
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Spectrum / Summer 2021
