Tributes to ‘one in a generation’ diabetes nurse

A highly respected independent nurse consultant who devoted 50 years to revolutionising diabetes care has died.

Following a courageous battle with cancer June James passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 23.

Having been instrumental in shaping and advancing innovative approaches to diabetes care across the UK, June leaves behind a lasting legacy in the diabetes field.

She worked for five decades in the NHS, latterly in her role as a Nurse Consultant and Non-Medical Prescriber.

After joining the NHS in 1976 as a Staff Nurse in Acute Medicine at Peterborough District Hospital, June began laying the foundation for her future contributions to diabetes care.

By 1994 she had become a Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse at Peterborough Primary Care Trust, a position she held until 2009 before she went on to co-found Trend Diabetes, revolutionising diabetes care by enhancing the education of healthcare professionals in the field.

Under her leadership, alongside Co-Chair Debbie Hicks, Trend Diabetes has earned a strong reputation for developing influential consensus documents and educational resources, benefiting both healthcare professionals and people living with diabetes.

NHS England commissioned the organisation to develop a training programme for non-registered nurses to administer insulin injections. With approximately 24,000 members, Trend Diabetes also hosts a prestigious conference every year to provide free support and guidance to people working in diabetes.

In 2019, June was awarded the title of Honorary Associate Professor by the University of Leicester, in recognition of her work.

In 2022, Trend Diabetes launched its own e-learning platform on World Diabetes Day, providing healthcare teams with expert-led modules to enhance their clinical knowledge of diabetes.

Alongside her clinical and training commitments, June was also involved with writing official health guidelines. Her contributions included updating the JBDS and Haemodialysis guideline, as well as working on NHS England’s web-based tools for insulin delegation.

Debbie Hicks said: “June was my peer, fellow Nurse Consultant and business partner for over 30 years, but more importantly she was my dear friend.

“We shared lots of fun developing Trend Diabetes together and are proud of the difference that has made to both people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. I will miss her deeply.”

June served as the National Clinical Nurse Safety Advisor for NHS England e-learning and, in 2010, developed the NHS Diabetes Safe Use of Insulin module. This vital resource has enhanced insulin safety knowledge for over 200,000 NHS nurses, helping to improve patient care nationwide.

She was also a steering group member for the Joint British Diabetes Societies and was actively involved in drafting the Joint British Diabetes Societies’ guidance on managing diabetes and steroid therapy.

In addition, June was commissioned to author the End of Life in Diabetes chapter for the International Textbook of Diabetes, she developed the Leicester Diabetes Educational toolkit and led on a variety of MSc diabetes modules. She was passionate about insulin safety, people with diabetes and advanced kidney disease, the care of older people, and the care of the dying.

June was the Co-Editor for Practical Diabetes. She also wrote and peer reviewed for other diabetes journals including Diabetic Medicine, Practical Diabetes International, Diabetes and Primary Care and the Journal of Diabetes Nursing.

She was the Vice Chair of the Council of Healthcare Professionals Diabetes UK in 2006, and a Board Member for the Institute of Diabetes in Older People in 2013/2014. Later she was also a committee member for the Royal Society of Medicine Education Group 2019. Additionally, she sat on the board for the Diabetes Times.

June James and Debbie Hicks with the then Prime Minister Theresa May

“There have been few pioneers in diabetic nursing, but June James was clearly one of them,” said Professor Alan Sinclair, Chair of the Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People and the National Advisory Panel for Care Home Diabetes.

He added: “Our collaborative work on End of Life Diabetes Care was considerable and most enjoyable. I will miss her energy and commitment, and above all her compassion for older people with diabetes.”

Professor Ketan Dhatariya, Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology and Chair of the ABCD, said: “June was an extraordinary person to work with – so knowledgeable, so committed and so willing to go the extra mile for the causes she believed in.

“She was a powerhouse and her dynamism, and her laugh will be very sorely missed by all those who knew her and worked with her. The UK has lost a giant in the world of diabetes.”

Professor Gerry Rayman, Consultant Diabetologist at the Diabetes Centre, Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I have had the pleasure of knowing June as both a friend and colleague for over 30 years.

“Her energy and enthusiasm have always made it a pleasure to meet up with her. June has made significant contributions to Diabetes UK, JBDS, and the diabetes nursing profession as a whole.”

He added: “Her unwavering passion for improving diabetes care has left a lasting impact, and she will be greatly missed.”

During her lifetime, June’s efforts in developing diabetes care received multiple recognition. In 1997 she won the Joint Lilly Diabetes Award for diabetes work among Ethnic Minority Groups and was awarded the Presentation of the Janet Kinson Lecture Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference Liverpool in 2010.

In 2018, Trend Diabetes won the Judges Special Award – Quality in Care, the Rowan Hillson Inpatient Safety Award Quality in Care Special Award and the Special Award-Diabetes Professional Care. A year later, June received a personal invitation to 10 Downing Street, where she met with the then-Prime Minister Theresa May in recognition of her outstanding contributions to diabetes care.

June’s impact extended far beyond the UK, earning her a global reputation as an advocate for diabetes awareness.

In 2013, she worked with the British Commission during a visit to Chennai, India, and served on international advisory boards for leading pharmaceutical companies. In 2018, she was invited to Nepal to train medical professionals for two weeks, further demonstrating her commitment to improving diabetes care worldwide.

Throughout her career, June has made many important contributions to diabetes research, care, and education. She will be remembered for her tireless commitment in the field and live on in the change it has brought about.

Our thoughts are with June’s loved ones at this time. June is survived by her husband Rod, her sons Andrew and Chris and two grandchildren.