Top 10 ranking for diabetes care

IRELAND is in the top 10 of European countries for providing “very competent” diabetes care.

But the country, ninth out of 29 countries in the first Euro Consumer Diabetes Index, is well adrift of Denmark, Britain and France.

The index compared care systems around Europe from a consumer point of view.

Ireland, however, could not provide data but 250 Irish patients answered the patient view survey — with 95% confirming they had received check-ups at least once a year.

However, consultant for diabetes and endocrinology at Waterford Regional Hospital, Dr Graham Roberts, questioned Ireland’s high ranking.

“The index records Irish patients’ impressions that they are well cared for while the medical facts clearly show that they are not,” he said.

Dr Roberts said the problem with diabetes was that patients often felt entirely well while they were being irreversibly damaged by the disease.

The Health Service Executive’s expert advisory report states that it has been clearly demonstrated that the concept of waiting to refer diabetic patients for specialist care until complications have occurred is “financially flawed” and fails to provide adequate care to the person with diabetes.

“The political problem with diabetes is how to pressurise the Government to finance diabetes services in an area of health where patients do not realise how badly damaged they are by not receiving the services,” said Dr Roberts, who is a member of the HSE’s expert advisory group on diabetes.

In five categories, covering 26 performance indicators, Ireland scored 733 points from a potential 1,000.

Denmark, despite spending less money per capita on healthcare than other central and northern European countries, scored 837 points.

It found that Denmark is providing very well organised diabetes management with enough professionals and great access to services.

And Britain, with 836 points, also had good diabetes management and, while it does not have enough foot specialists, its services were still found to be better than most other countries. France (814) and the Netherlands (813), have very good diabetes care. Belgium came in fifth.

Behind the five leaders were countries described as having “very competent healthcare systems” — Norway (781), Italy (752), Germany (751), together with Ireland and Switzerland that scored above 720 points.

Diabetes: The facts

* Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

* The long-term health effects can include heart attacks, strokes or blindness.

* Type-1 diabetes occurs when a person cannot make any insulin. It mostly occurs before age 30 but may strike at any age. It can be caused by a genetic disorder. It is treated with insulin injections and diet.

* Type-2 diabetes is where cells have become resistant to insulin. It usually occurs after age 35 but can affect anyone.

* Diabetes cannot be cured. but Type-1 is treated with insulin injections and Type-2 can be treated with diet and lifestyle changes.

* Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, extreme tiredness, regular toilet use, weight loss and blurred vision.