26 Jun 2025, 11:48Sharon Platt-McDonald
Adventist Women Impacting Their Communities
As part of our ongoing initiative, the British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department continues to celebrate Seventh-day Adventist women who are making a positive impact in their communities.
In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Sister Gloria Simon – a dedicated Diabetic Specialist Nurse and passionate Health Educator. Her commitment to health and wellbeing, both professionally and within the church, exemplifies the spirit of service and empowerment we seek to honour. We share her inspiring journey in our latest interview feature.
SPM: Sis Gloria, please share what inspired you to pursue a career in nursing.
GS: My inspiration came from a deep care for others and stories of my courageous grandmother, who was often called to help deliver babies in her village. She inspired me greatly.
A turning point came when I was about nine. My dog, Hero, had a serious wound after being bitten. I treated him with traditional methods, and he recovered – something my father praised. I saw it as a sign that God was leading me toward nursing.
I moved to the UK at 15, and by 17, I eagerly began training as a cadet nurse at a small hospital in Acton. At 18, I started my SEN training, which lasted two years. After working as an SEN for several years, I went on to university to qualify as a Registered General Nurse, completing an additional three years of training.
SPM: What has been a key highlight of your career, and how did you see God’s leading?
GS: One highlight was working in a private ward at a London hospital, where my care was highly appreciated by both patients and consultants. I was entrusted with making independent decisions on care plans, which was a great honour.
To better support Arabic-speaking patients, I studied Arabic at a college in Richmond and shared what I learned with the staff. This helped us meet patients’ needs more effectively, especially when family members weren’t present. God used this language skill to help me connect more deeply with people from different backgrounds.
SPM: In your work on diabetes awareness, what are the key messages around prevention?
GS: One key message is the importance of structured, evidence-based education. This empowers people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their health and make lasting lifestyle changes.
It’s also vital to help individuals – whether or not they have diabetes – understand the condition, set clear goals, eat healthily, stay active, and be aware of risk factors.
Raising awareness about Metabolic Syndrome is crucial, too. Recognising signs like increased waist size, high blood pressure, and raised triglycerides can help people take action before developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
SPM: What has been your most successful initiative so far?
GS: One of my most successful initiatives was running a 6-week Diabetes X-PERT programme in Hanwell with seven participants. Its success wasn't about numbers but the measurable improvements in participants’ health.
Using a multifunctional blood machine, I carried out baseline screenings – checking blood pressure, BMI, waist size, weight, and cholesterol – on weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7. Most participants saw positive changes due to lifestyle adjustments.
They ate more vegetables, reduced the amount of salt and oil in their cooking, and increased their physical activity. Goal setting played a significant role, and each participant received a certificate upon completing the course.
SPM: How do you work with diabetic patients?
GS: I support individuals one-on-one – by phone or in-person – helping them build confidence in managing their condition. I use hands-on visual aids, which make learning more engaging and accessible, especially for those who prefer not to read lots of text.
I’ve been blessed to share this practical diabetes education in underserved communities across 10 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Greece, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – with encouraging results.
SPM: You’ve received national recognition for your work in diabetic care. Tell us more.
GS: By God’s leading, I’ve been nationally recognised for my work in diabetes care and health promotion. My training at the University of Warwick, renowned for its medical research, equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary for this journey.
I specialised in areas such as diabetes in older adults, counselling, and diabetes retinopathy, and spent years running the 6-week Diabetes X-PERT programme, which earned me recognition.
I’m truly grateful to God for every life impacted – especially those who’ve reversed their diabetes through the programme and made lasting lifestyle changes.
SPM: Sis Simon, thank you for sharing your inspiring journey in health promotion and ministry. May God’s continued favour rest upon you as you touch and transform lives through your work.
See video: ‘Diabetes – A Guide for the African & Caribbean Community’, features Gloria Simon’s health promotion work:
https://youtu.be/1rcHXR0-Oqs?si=JTXNGC50aKXEzZRb
As part of our ongoing initiative, the British Union Conference (BUC) Women’s Ministries Department continues to celebrate Seventh-day Adventist women who are making a positive impact in their communities.
In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Sister Gloria Simon – a dedicated Diabetic Specialist Nurse and passionate Health Educator. Her commitment to health and wellbeing, both professionally and within the church, exemplifies the spirit of service and empowerment we seek to honour. We share her inspiring journey in our latest interview feature.
SPM: Sis Gloria, please share what inspired you to pursue a career in nursing.
GS: My inspiration came from a deep care for others and stories of my courageous grandmother, who was often called to help deliver babies in her village. She inspired me greatly.
A turning point came when I was about nine. My dog, Hero, had a serious wound after being bitten. I treated him with traditional methods, and he recovered – something my father praised. I saw it as a sign that God was leading me toward nursing.
I moved to the UK at 15, and by 17, I eagerly began training as a cadet nurse at a small hospital in Acton. At 18, I started my SEN training, which lasted two years. After working as an SEN for several years, I went on to university to qualify as a Registered General Nurse, completing an additional three years of training.
SPM: What has been a key highlight of your career, and how did you see God’s leading?
GS: One highlight was working in a private ward at a London hospital, where my care was highly appreciated by both patients and consultants. I was entrusted with making independent decisions on care plans, which was a great honour.
To better support Arabic-speaking patients, I studied Arabic at a college in Richmond and shared what I learned with the staff. This helped us meet patients’ needs more effectively, especially when family members weren’t present. God used this language skill to help me connect more deeply with people from different backgrounds.
SPM: In your work on diabetes awareness, what are the key messages around prevention?
GS: One key message is the importance of structured, evidence-based education. This empowers people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their health and make lasting lifestyle changes.
It’s also vital to help individuals – whether or not they have diabetes – understand the condition, set clear goals, eat healthily, stay active, and be aware of risk factors.
Raising awareness about Metabolic Syndrome is crucial, too. Recognising signs like increased waist size, high blood pressure, and raised triglycerides can help people take action before developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
SPM: What has been your most successful initiative so far?
GS: One of my most successful initiatives was running a 6-week Diabetes X-PERT programme in Hanwell with seven participants. Its success wasn't about numbers but the measurable improvements in participants’ health.
Using a multifunctional blood machine, I carried out baseline screenings – checking blood pressure, BMI, waist size, weight, and cholesterol – on weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7. Most participants saw positive changes due to lifestyle adjustments.
They ate more vegetables, reduced the amount of salt and oil in their cooking, and increased their physical activity. Goal setting played a significant role, and each participant received a certificate upon completing the course.
SPM: How do you work with diabetic patients?
GS: I support individuals one-on-one – by phone or in-person – helping them build confidence in managing their condition. I use hands-on visual aids, which make learning more engaging and accessible, especially for those who prefer not to read lots of text.
I’ve been blessed to share this practical diabetes education in underserved communities across 10 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Greece, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago – with encouraging results.
SPM: You’ve received national recognition for your work in diabetic care. Tell us more.
GS: By God’s leading, I’ve been nationally recognised for my work in diabetes care and health promotion. My training at the University of Warwick, renowned for its medical research, equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary for this journey.
I specialised in areas such as diabetes in older adults, counselling, and diabetes retinopathy, and spent years running the 6-week Diabetes X-PERT programme, which earned me recognition.
I’m truly grateful to God for every life impacted – especially those who’ve reversed their diabetes through the programme and made lasting lifestyle changes.
SPM: Sis Simon, thank you for sharing your inspiring journey in health promotion and ministry. May God’s continued favour rest upon you as you touch and transform lives through your work.
See video: ‘Diabetes – A Guide for the African & Caribbean Community’, features Gloria Simon’s health promotion work:
https://youtu.be/1rcHXR0-Oqs?si=JTXNGC50aKXEzZRb
