Diabetes Ireland launched the results of the first-ever survey highlighting the lived experience of people with diabetes in Ireland. An anonymous online survey of adults with diabetes or parents/ carers of children with diabetes was conducted between 16 January and 5 February 2023 via social media and standard online communication to ask about experiences of living with diabetes in Ireland. 517 people completed all sections of the survey: 230 adults with type 1 diabetes, 155 with type 2 diabetes and 12 with other types of diabetes, and 120 parents/carers.
Amongst adults, 37% reported they were already living with diabetes-related complications and comorbidities. Most commonly these were hypertension (high blood pressure – 23%), diabetes retinopathy (23%), hypothyroidism (17%) and mental health-related issues (14%). During their lifespan living with diabetes, both adults & children living with type 1 diabetes had experienced severe complications: 40% had experienced DKA, mainly at the time of diagnosis, which should be avoidable if diabetes symptoms were recognised early; and 45% of adults experienced at least one episode of severe hypoglycaemia – a critically low glucose level, which usually comes with unconsciousness and requires third party help and possible hospitalisation.
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