21/09/2026
As part of Hypo Awareness Week we speak to Western Trust Ciara McCrystal, Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse about her role in supporting patients with diabetes in the Fermanagh area.
Staff Profile Q&A Ciara McCrystal, Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Ciara McCrystal, I am originally from Garvaghey, Ballygawley before setting up home in Carrickmore. I currently work as a Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse in the Southern sector of the Western Trust based at Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex covering the Fermanagh area.
I have been part of the diabetes team for over four years. Prior to this role, I spent 21 years working as a Dialysis Nurse in the Renal Unit in Omagh. My experience in both renal and diabetes care has given me a strong understanding of supporting people with long-term conditions and helping them manage their health effectively.
Outside of work, I am a mum of five children, so life is always busy and full of activity. Balancing family life and a rewarding career keeps me on my toes, but I enjoy the variety and challenges that both bring.
Can you tell us a little bit, about what you do in your day-to-day job?
As a Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse, no two days are ever the same. My role involves supporting people living with diabetes to help them manage their condition and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
A typical day may include reviewing blood glucose results, adjusting diabetes medications and insulin doses, providing education and advice to patients and their families, and helping people develop the confidence and skills to self-manage their diabetes. I work closely with GPs, practice nurses, hospital teams, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to ensure patients receive the best possible care.
Much of my work takes place in community clinics, but I also provide support remotely through telephone consultations and technology such as continuous glucose monitoring systems. A key part of my role is helping individuals understand their diabetes, identify challenges, and find practical solutions that fit into their everyday lives.
What I enjoy most about the role is building relationships with patients and seeing the positive difference that education, support, and encouragement can make to their health and quality of life.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
One of the most challenging aspects of my role is helping people manage a condition that requires attention every day of their lives. Diabetes can be affected by so many factors, including diet, activity levels, illness, stress, and medication changes, so finding the right balance is not always straightforward.
Another challenge is supporting patients who may be struggling with the emotional side of living with diabetes. It can sometimes feel overwhelming, and part of my role is helping people build confidence in managing their condition while providing reassurance and encouragement when things do not go as planned.
Like many areas of healthcare, managing increasing demand for services while ensuring every patient receives the time and support they need can also be challenging. However, I find it very rewarding when patients achieve their goals, improve their diabetes management, and feel more confident in looking after their health.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the positive difference I can make in people’s lives. Diabetes can sometimes feel overwhelming for patients, particularly when they are newly diagnosed or struggling with managing their condition. Being able to support, educate, and encourage them on their journey is incredibly fulfilling.
I particularly enjoy seeing patients gain confidence in managing their diabetes and achieve improvements in their blood glucose control. Whether it is helping someone understand how to use new technology, reducing their risk of complications, or simply helping them feel more in control of their health, it is rewarding to know that I have played a part in that progress.
Building long-term relationships with patients is another aspect of the role that I value. It is a privilege to support people through different stages of their diabetes journey and to celebrate their successes with them. Seeing patients achieve goals they may not have thought possible and hearing how those changes have improved their quality of life makes the challenges of the job worthwhile.
Can you recall your happiest moment or moments to date in your job?
I have been very fortunate to experience many happy moments throughout my nursing career. Some of my most treasured memories are not only related to my professional achievements but also the friendships and support I have received from colleagues over the years.
I had all five of my children while working at both the old Tyrone County Hospital and later the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex. My colleagues were there through every stage of my family life, celebrating the happy milestones with me and supporting me through some of the more difficult times as well. Many of those colleagues have become lifelong friends, and I feel very grateful to have shared so much of my journey with them.
Professionally, I am also proud of what I have achieved throughout my career. Alongside working and raising a family, I have completed further studies in Teaching, Specialist Practice, and Independent Prescribing. These were significant milestones for me and required a great deal of commitment, but they have helped me grow both personally and professionally.
When I look back, my happiest moments are a combination of the relationships I have built, the support I have received from colleagues, the family memories created along the way, and the sense of achievement from continuing to develop my skills and career. Together, these experiences have shaped the nurse I am today.
What would you say to someone who was considering following in your footsteps?
I would absolutely encourage anyone considering a career in nursing to go for it. In fact, my own daughter is following in my footsteps, just as I followed in my mother’s. Nursing has been a huge part of my family’s story, and I feel very proud to see that continue into the next generation.
I genuinely love my job. It is not always easy, and there are certainly challenging days, but I feel rewarded each and every day. Looking back on my career, I truly feel that nursing is what I was meant to do.
My advice would be to keep your eyes and mind open to all the opportunities that nursing can offer. It is hard work, but it is also incredibly rewarding. There are so many different paths you can take, whether that is in hospitals or the community, working with children or adults, or specialising in areas such as Diabetes, Renal, Palliative Care. There is something to suit every interest and personality.
One of the greatest things about nursing is the variety and flexibility it provides. The profession can open doors to further education, specialist roles, leadership opportunities, and even careers abroad if travel is something you aspire to. The skills and experience you gain as a nurse are valued throughout the world.
Most importantly, nursing gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives every single day. For me, that is the greatest privilege of all, and it is why I would encourage anyone with a passion for caring for others to consider it as a career.
Can you tell us one thing about yourself that people might not know? (e.g. outside interest, hobby, family, sport, likes, dislikes)
One thing that people might not know about me is that, outside of nursing, I am the Club Secretary for my local hurling and camogie club. It is a role I really enjoy, and it keeps me closely involved with my local community. Between work, family life, and club activities, there is never a dull moment!
I am also a mum of five, so life is usually very busy. When I do get a bit of time to myself, I enjoy nothing more than curling up on the sofa and binge-watching a good Netflix series.
As for dislikes, there is one thing I absolutely cannot be persuaded to eat… mushy peas!
Being involved in the local club, spending time with family, and finding the odd chance to relax with a good TV series helps me switch off and recharge outside of work.
If you had one wish in life, what would it be?
If I had one wish in life, it would be for my family to stay close, healthy, and happy. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most to me. Working in healthcare has shown me how precious good health is and how important it is to make the most of the time we have together.
Like most people, I’d love to live without worrying about the things that life can throw at us from time to time. Knowing that the people I care about are safe, well, and enjoying life would be all I could ask for.
And, if I’m allowed a little extra wish on the side, winning the lottery wouldn’t go amiss! It might not buy happiness, but it wouldn’t hurt!
Can you remember your first patient? First day?
I can’t honestly say that I remember my very first patient, but I can definitely remember my first day as a newly qualified nurse. Like most newly qualified nurses, it was a huge moment putting on the uniform and realising that the responsibility now rested with you. It was both exciting and daunting in equal measure. Suddenly, you were accountable for your patients and the decisions you made, which felt like a very big responsibility at the time.
It honestly feels like a lifetime ago now, but there are certain moments that stay with you. One memory that stands out is being in the Royal Victoria Hospital, carrying out a routine blood pressure check on a patient, when news began to emerge about the events of September 11th in New York. It was one of those moments where everyone remembers where they were, and it is something I have never forgotten.
Looking back, I remember the nerves, the sense of responsibility, and the determination to do the best I could for my patients. Over the years, experience and support from colleagues helped build my confidence, but those first days as a newly qualified nurse are something very special and stay with you throughout your career.