Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
721. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the screening services available for children for type one diabetes in Ireland and across Europe; if screening is provided by public health systems; and if so, if there are any patient registries to help track progress of the disease. [23126/23]
View answerDiabetes is a complex condition that can have a profound impact on the quality of life of people living with the condition. If not well managed, it can lead to debilitating complications. Management of the condition is required across the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery including self-management support as well as care delivered through general practice, community specialist care and hospital inpatient specialist care.
At present, there is no pre-symptomatic Type 1 diabetes screening in Ireland. Children and Adults are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when they have symptoms.
There is active research ongoing internationally to look for markers in the blood which could identify children and adults at risk of type 1 diabetes before they develop symptoms and to look for treatment that could then prevent diabetes from developing. This work is still in the research stage and is not available in the UK or Ireland.
Budget 2023 provides funding for a number of initiatives aimed at improving diabetes care, including commencing the development of a National Diabetes Registry and the commencement of a National Paediatric Audit of Type 1 Diabetes. Data collected by audits and registers allow for better planning in the provision of diabetes health services and improved patient care.
Establishing a paediatric diabetes registry is a priority for the HSE National Clinical Programme who are working closely with the National Office for Clinical Audit (NOCA) on a plan to set up a national registry for children and young people.
