Accessing Diabetes Technology in Ireland

Written by Dr Kate Gajewska, Clinical Manager for Advocacy and Research, Diabetes Ireland

Technology used in diabetes care is changing lives of people living with diabetes. From insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) data to automated insulin delivery systems, ‘artificial pancreas’ that estimate and deliver insulin thanks to algorithms based on the CGM data. Technology improves management of diabetes, reduces the risk of diabetes complications – long term and severe, decreases the risk of hypoglycaemia, provides better data to inform insulin dosing, enables remote consultations, and most importantly – improves the quality of life, flexibility, and well-being. People with diabetes in Ireland are lucky to have some advanced technological tools (and all other medicines) reimbursed by the Long-Term Illness Scheme. The issue is that people with diabetes in Ireland – are frequently not using technology, many possible reasons. Research on uptake and access to insulin pump therapy suggests that less than 7% of adults with type 1 diabetes were using pumps in Ireland in 2016, what seems to be low when compared to other Western-European countries (i.e., 34% of adults in Germany, 15% in England and Wales). Training to commence insulin pump therapy is not available in more than half of adult diabetes clinics in Ireland, and among the main barriers to accessing it are limited resources, lack of expertise, awareness, and individual attitudes to technology of health-care professionals and people living with diabetes. The situation with insulin pump therapy looks better in paediatric care, so sooner than later, the need for improved access and follow up care for insulin pump users or those wiling to commence it will increase.