Identifying sufferers - Alarm bells over threat of diabetes

THE prediction by medical experts of a possible explosion of diabetes among Irish people in the coming years has frightening implications.

Comparing diabetes with Aids may sound alarmist, but it is potentially more devastating. About 200,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes in this country, and there are estimations that as many as 100,000 people may have the disease but are unaware of it.

Diabetes can be controlled by a combination of diet, medication and exercise. Those who are unaware that they are suffering from the disease are not taking the necessary steps to control it. They are therefore exposing themselves to the horrific complications.

People may suffer from diabetes for years, without realising it. But it can have life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, and nerve complications.

The All-Ireland Institute of Public Health forecast in 2006 that there would be a 37% increase in diabetics in the following eight years. We are into that period now and the alarm bells should be ringing.

Because of the serious complications people suffering from diabetes usually cannot get new or extra health insurance. In some instances they have been refused mortgages, because they are unable to obtain mortgage protection as they are considered too high a risk.

Hence it is particularly important that those who may be vulnerable should be aware of their susceptibility, both from the standpoint of taking precautions to prevent the disease and insuring themselves against it in the event those precautions are not successful.

The disease is usually attributed to diet, but hereditary factors may also play an important role, especially with people whose diet might otherwise be considered normal. One of the symptoms is thirstiness, but this can be complicated if the unknowing sufferer resorts to taking soft drinks, which are usually high in sugar content.

A study of the cost of diabetes in Ireland has found that it essentially costs €2,468 a year for every patient, and the taxpayers are paying about €600 million annually. Two-thirds of that is the cost of dealing with the complications, so this emphasises the need for prevention and early detection.

A special committee — the Diabetes Expert Advisory Group — was set up to make recommendations, but the HSE does not appear to have done anything to follow up. It is not providing leadership.

Detection is relatively easy from blood or urine samples. Identifying the 100,000 unknowing sufferers should be relatively easy with proper leadership.