Su Down

Su Down RGN, MSc, NMP 

Su began her diabetes career in 1989 and from 2005 to 2025 she held the role of Diabetes Nurse Consultant for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and following a 42- year nursing career, she retired.  

In her working role she played a key role in leading the service through a complete redesign and implementing a community-based team of diabetes specialist nurses and specialist dietitians.  In her role as Clinical Lead for the service, she is responsible for the clinical supervision of the nursing team and the delivery of virtual clinics to the 68 GP practices across the county. 

Su also held many national roles, some of these were, but not exclusively: Editor in chief of The Journal of Diabetes Nursing, Co-Vice Chair of the Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS), Member of the Forum for Injection Technique, member of TREND (Training, Research and Education for Nurses in Diabetes), and a member of the Diabetes UK Professional Advisory Committee. 

Su’s particular interests are in elderly care, end-of-life care, insulin safety, injection technique, hypoglycaemia and pregnancy care. Nationally, in addition to holding the above roles, she is a recognized and well-respected national speaker.  

Outside of work Su spends much of her free time gardening, walking her Springador dog, renovating her cottage or with her newfound hobby of campanology. She has twin sons who live and work in London and a daughter who lives and works in New Zealand, so she is also travelling frequently to visit!