Hundreds urged to see GP over diabetes fears

HUNDREDS of people have been told to see their GP urgently after a routine public health screening event for diabetes revealed shocking results.

A total of 3,000 people were screened by experts from the Diabetes Federation of Ireland (DFI) at the awareness raising event in Cork last month.

The organisation compiled a range of figures following the tests and released a breakdown of the details last week which showed that:

* Of the 80 people who had a cholesterol test, 41 registered readings above the desired levels.

* Of the 294 people screened for diabetes, 18 were referred to their GP for further testing.

* Of the 130 people who had their blood pressure measured, 52 were advised to see their GP for further tests.

* Of the 109 people who tested for glaucoma — an eye disease that can cause blindness in people with diabetes — 16 were referred on for further testing.

* And a number of people who tested for diabetic retinopathy — a progressive eye disease associated with diabetes — were advised to make an immediate appointment with their ophthalmologist.

Anna Clarke, the DFI’s health promotion manager said the results raised serious concerns.

Such public health screening events normally tend to attract people who are genuinely interested in looking after their health, she said.

“Yet the numbers of screening results warranting professional attention are so high,” she said.

“Even more worrying was that of 134 people who had their A1c measured, 40% showed poor control of their diabetes, 20 of whom had readings high enough to warrant referral to their medical team.”

The A1c test is the ‘gold standard’ in terms of measuring long-term glucose control.

The International Diabetes Federation recommends a 6.5% target for patients.

But the results from the screening day in Cork showed that half of the people tested were above 6.5%.

People attending the screening were also able to avail of a range of other health checks.

Over the estimated 500 people who visited the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists of Ireland stand, around half were referred onto their local podiatrist, a foot and ankle specialist, for further consultation.

The DFI said the results of the exhibition highlighted the need for more regular health checks.

A similar exhibition was held in Dublin on November 6. Results from there showed that of the 280 people screened for diabetes, almost 30 were referred on to their GPs for further tests.

Of the 100 people tested for cholesterol and blood pressure, 50 had levels that raised concern and were advised to see their GP.

The screening events, organised by the DFI and supported by Splenda Low Calorie Sweetener, celebrated World Diabetes Day in Ireland.

* Diabetes Federation of Ireland: 1850 909 909.