A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can take a heavy toll on children and their families

A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can take a heavy toll on children and their families. Marjorie Brennan looks at how the CUH paediatric diabetes team helps them on their journey, and finds out how additional resources could make a difference

Five-year-old Micheál Coyne who has Type 1 Diabetes at his home in Youghal. Picture: Howard Crowdy

THE onslaught of Covid-19 has shone a spotlight on the often unsung heroes of our health service. However, while they tackle the myriad effects of a pandemic, dedicated staff must also continue to manage the health issues of those with ongoing chronic conditions. 

One of the most common of these is diabetes. According to Diabetes Ireland, in the absence of a register of people who have diabetes, it is difficult to establish definitive figures but it is estimated that around 225,000 people in Ireland live with the condition. The majority of these have type 2 diabetes, which usually develops in adulthood and can sometimes be treated with diet and exercise, but more often may require medication and/or insulin injections. In contrast, type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition which tends to occur in childhood or early adult life, and always requires treatment with insulin.