Thank You

SLIGO

Thank you to the young people in Enniscrone. To increase awareness of Type 1 Diabetes and raise funds for a new Paediatric Diabetic Centre at Sligo Hospital, Foróige decided on a 5K Rainbow Run and were doused with coloured powder.  The event was a huge success as a fundraiser raising €2275.

Diabetes Ireland supports communities. Get ready to meet our Sligo representative Clair Naughton, delivering:

Diabetes Education in Sligo

June 15th

This is a 4 week evening education session for locals with type 2 diabetes  starting June 15th in Northwest Business Park, Collooney. Read about our Sligo CODE course here

To book, call Regina on 071 914 600

The SLIGO branch remain active in their community. This years Family (& Dog!) Knocknarea Climb is taking place on Sunday June 12. Last year over 200 people attended and the craic was good and the blood sugars were even better after the exercise.

To register call 071 914 6001 or email [email protected]

We Are Advocating For You

This week, our Chief Executive has been in contact with  TD’s throughout Ireland seeking their help to initiate the recruitment of the 36 posts in diabetes,  sanctioned in the 2016 HSE Service Plan.

Our local Diabetes Branches have been asked to contact their local TD’s on this issue. In addition, we are also following up with  public representatives to ensure the recruitment of the second Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist in University Hospital Limerick.

Diabetes Ireland is extremely concerned that these posts will not be filled this year. These posts are a mixture of community-based diabetes nurse specialists, senior dietitians and senior podiatrists and are spread across the country.

Diabetes Awareness & Prevention

Corporate Wellness Programmes

Diabetes Ireland are actively seeking to participate in as many Corporate Wellness programmes as possible throughout Ireland. Screening people in the workplace is an excellent way of picking up people whose blood sugar regulation is not working as well as it should. Symptoms are silent and over the years, irreparable damage can accumulate. Early detection is Key. Work Places offer us a great preventative opportunity.

Sinead Powell, our Dublin-based dietitian, met a large Dublin company for a corporate wellness and screening day. She was delighted to see a greater turnout than expected for the glucose screenings which took place after her engaging talk. The waist circumference measuring tapes made for great fun amongst colleagues!  What we found interesting is that prevention was their greatest take-away message. Type 2 diabetes is mostly preventable if you eat well, exercise regularly, stay lean and look after yourself.

Pauline Lunch,  Health Promotions Officer presented a corporate wellness programme in East Cork and those who  completed a risk assessment  were surprised to find themselves in the medium risk category or in the high risk category and will take our healthy eating and exercise recommendations on board. The information was well  received and timely.

Limerick

Thank you to Croagh National School who donated their Confirmation money to Diabetes Ireland for research into type 1 diabetes, totalling an impressive €425. Principal Theresa Lawlor said ”children of Croagh NS chose Diabetes Ireland because  their classmate Sinead Lenihan has type 1 diabetes”. Theresa is joined by 5th & 6th class, Sinead’s Mom and volunteer, Grainne Flynn in the photo above.

Pauline Dunne, Dietitian and Clair Naughton, Diabetes Nurse had another fulfilling week in Limerick working with carers who look after people in the Intellectual Disability who have diabetes or who are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The general consensus was ”it was a very worthwhile course both for professional and personal use” and that they all received ”good health promotion ideas that can be used ”  in caring for their clients in the future.