Advocating For You
One of the most important aspects of our work is to advocate for better services for and better lives of people with diabetes. See how we do it.
Advocacy continues to be a very important priority for Diabetes Ireland. Our first major success was to obtain free medication for all people with diabetes in 1971. Today, that success still holds in that every person in Ireland diagnosed with diabetes can obtain free diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol medications under the Long-Term Illness scheme.
But we want to see more and today our aim is to see improved public services, better and quicker access to good quality of care, diabetes technology and medications and better recognition of diabetes and the diabetes community by the Government and its public officials. We work continuously to achieve improvements which will benefit the diabetes community.
Advocating for All
Pre-Budget Submissions
We want to see change. In recent years, through working with people living with diabetes, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders, we have made pre-budget submissions on behalf of all people living with diabetes in Ireland.
2026 Pre-budget Submission
2024 Pre-budget Submission
In 2024, we urged the Minister for Health, the Department of Health, and the Government to prioritise two very important initiatives which were:
- To set up a task force to develop a 10-year National Diabetes Strategy
- To improve access to any form of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
2023 Pre-budget Submission
In 2023, we urged the Minister for Health, the Department of Health, and the Government to prioritise:
- The need to provide immediate funding for the development of a National Diabetes Registry and
- Regular auditing of diabetes healthcare services and clinical outcomes, so people with diabetes get access to similar standards of treatment and care regardless of where they live.
CLICK HERE TO READ PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2023
2022 Pre-budget Submission
In 2022, we proposed 8 immediate actions for implementation which would improve the quality of life for people living with diabetes and reduce the long-term costs of preventable diabetes complications. Pre-budget Submission 2022 focused on a range of deliverable actions that were person-centred, cost effective and built on existing HSE commitments to tackle chronic conditions including diabetes.
Other Diabetes Ireland Advocacy Initiatives
Accessing Diabetes Services in Ireland 2023
In 2023, we asked people living with diabetes (or their carers) in Ireland about their experience of living daily with the condition. We asked questions not only about diabetes teams, waiting lists, education, annual reviews etc., but also about their diabetes diagnosis, treatments, complications, comorbidities, education and confidence with managing diabetes.
Advocacy continues to be a very important priority for Diabetes Ireland. Our goal is to see improved public services, better and quicker access to good quality of care, diabetes technology and medications and better recognition of diabetes and the diabetes community by the Government and its public officials. Work is continuously ongoing to achieve improvements which will benefit the diabetes community.
Our impact through the years
2024
Minister for Health, Mr Stephen Donnelly mandated the establishment of the Diabetes Policy and Services Review to improve patient outcomes, minimise the health complications associated with diabetes, and ensure that Irish health services are best organized to provide the patient care and support needed by people living with diabetes.
Diabetes Ireland was invited to join the Steering Commitee to develop the document.
Diabetes Ireland was involved in development of the Models of Care for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. On the 10th of May 2024, the Health Service Executive (HSE) supported by the Department of Health launched two important guideline documents, namely the update of National Clinical Guidelines for Adults with Type 1 diabetes, and the update of the Integrated Model of Care for Adults with Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes in Adults: CGM provision
The most important change in this document recommends making continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) available for all adults with Type 1 Diabetes. CGM enables people with diabetes to monitor their blood glucose levels without the need for finger pricking. The HSE has implemented a new reimbursement application system for CGM sensors which came into effect in December 2023.
2023
In 2023, we published Pre-Budget Submission 2024: CLICK HERE TO READ PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2024
Access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring for People with Type 1 diabetes
Diabetes Ireland was involved in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) led by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Following a request from the office of the Chief Clinical Officer at the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HTA of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) focused exclusively on adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The aim of this rapid HTA was to provide advice on the clinical-effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and budget impact of providing CGM for adults with T1DM and was published in September 2023. Since December 2023, reimbursement of CGM for people with Type 1 diabetes regardless of age, as well as single application reimbursement system was introduced.
Accessing Diabetes Services in Ireland 2023
In 2023, we asked people living with diabetes (or their carers) in Ireland about their experience of living daily with the condition. We asked questions not only about diabetes teams, waiting lists, education, annual reviews etc., but also about their diabetes diagnosis, treatments, complications, comorbidities, education and confidence with managing diabetes.
2022
Diabetes Ireland was involved in the development of the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit Feasibility Study Report published by National Office of Clinical Audit. The report has been published and recommended establishment of a National Paediatric Diabetes Audit to deliver a high-quality service to children and young people and their families. See more here.
Pre-budget Submission 2023: See the Pre-budget Submission 2023.
