The new Models of Care for Diabetes Care lay out the best way to look after the health of people with diabetes across Ireland, but they are just pieces of paper unless the funds and staff are there to put them in place. Ask your local candidates if they will fight to make sure the necessary resources to improve diabetes care are put in place in your area.

Questions to ask your local election candidate

Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes Care

The Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes Model of Care was launched by Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD in December 2015. This will provide a blueprint and a platform to advocate for more resources in your local area and bring diabetes services up to the standard we deserve.

Possible Questions

• What will you do to address the current staff deficits required to provide a high quality accessible diabetes service for my child?
• What will you do to make sure the recommendations in the HSE’s Paediatric Model of Care document for my area are implemented?
• What will you do to ensure my child’s local diabetes team is fully resourced with access to all the healthcare professionals they require to help them live well with type 1 diabetes?

Adult Diabetes Care

The Adult Diabetes Model of Care is almost ready for launch. Similar to the paediatric diabetes model of care, it will provide a blueprint and a platform to advocate for more resources in your local area and bring diabetes services up to the standard we deserve.

Possible Questions

• What will you do to ensure the diabetes model of care for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes will be launched by June 2016?
• What will you do to make sure the recommendations in the diabetes model of care for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 for my area are implemented?

 Type 2 Diabetes Cycle of Care Initiative

This initiative was launched in October 2015 providing free access to 2 diabetes review appointments to those with a medical or GP visit card. To date 60,000 people with Type 2 diabetes are signed up to the initiative.

Possible Questions

• What will you do to have this initiative extended to all people with diabetes?

Guidelines for the transitioning of Teens with Type 1 Diabetes from Paediatric to Adult Services

Diabetes Ireland understands that these guidelines are ready for publication.

Possible Questions

• What will you do to ensure these guidelines are launched by June 2016?
• What will you do to ensure the guidelines are implemented in my local area?

We all need to stand together as the diabetes community and ask election candidates what they intend to do to help us achieve full implementation of these strategy documents. Above are just a few questions that you could ask along with other questions or other issues you may have in relation to your diabetes management.

After the election, Diabetes Ireland will of course continue to advocate on all of these areas until we see a diabetes service that can provide the quality service we deserve regardless of where we live.