John Gormley
Question:751 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the latest statistics on the number of people who suffer from diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2168/03]
Written Answers. - Diabetes Incidence.
As diabetes is not a notifiable disease, comprehensive information on the prevalence of this condition in the community is not available. However, on the basis of international studies on the prevalance of diabetes, there may be approximately 200,000 people with this disease in Ireland. For those diabetes sufferers who require hospitalisation, data are available from the hospital in-patient inquiry, HIPE, system which records information on all hospital discharges for in-patients and day cases in publicly funded acute hospitals. The following table indicates the number of hospitalisations with a principal diagnosis of diabetes for inpatients and day cases for each of the years 1997 to 2001. If patients are admitted more than once in a given year, each attendance is recorded separately in HIPE.
Hospitalisations due to Diabetes 1997-2001
|
Year |
In-patients |
Day cases |
Total |
|
1997 |
4051 |
1367 |
5418 |
|
1998 |
4140 |
1499 |
5639 |
|
1999 |
4188 |
1511 |
5699 |
|
2000 |
4441 |
1567 |
6008 |
|
2001 |
4727 |
1629 |
6356 |
Note: Data refer to patients who were hospitalised with a principal diagnosis of Diabetes (ICD9-CM 250).
Source: HIPE Data 1997-2001.
Cardiovascular health strategy, Building Healthier Hearts.
The implementation of the health promotion recommendations of the cardiovascular health strategy is of direct benefit to diabetics.
Some €54 million has been allocated to the strategy employing about 800 professional staff to date. Of this €5 million has been allocated to health promotion employing almost 150 additional health promotion officers. All national and regional levels health promotion campaigns on healthy eating and being active are developed in association with the Diabetic Federation of Ireland.
In 2002 the cardiovascular health strategy allocated €58,000 to the Diabetic Federation of Ireland as follows:
– €50,000 to fund the post of a diabetic nurse specialist to support the federation's health promotion initiatives. This post provides information database and helpline, develops national awareness on diabetes, reviews literature and develops detailed direction for early detection and prevention. Some €8,000 was allocated to a decision-makers conference on 1 October 2002 that aimed to foster collaboration, co-operation and partnership in the development of diabetic services and set out the short to medium term objectives to the implementation of the Diabetic Federation's strategy, Diabetic Care: Securing the Future.
The national programme in general practice for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, Heartwatch, commenced on 1 October 2002 and is being undertaken by the Department of Health and Children, the health authority /boards in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Irish Heart Foundation.
While the initial phase concentrates on secondary prevention, given that patients with diabetes are at a high risk of developing heart disease, approximately 1,000 patients with diabetes are being included as part of the initial phase in the Midland Health Board at a cost of approximately €200,000.
The report on the diabetes service development group Diabetes Care, Securing the Future was submitted to me during 2002. My Department is currently examining this report to identify any action points which may be possible to progress in the context of service provision in 2003. I will meet with the Diabetes Federation of Ireland shortly when this examination is complete.