Type 2 Diabetes Voices

Nothing About us, Without us

The “Type 2 Diabetes 100 Voices” project is a survey of people living with type 2 diabetes and their experiences when accessing the current health services and supports.

The purpose of this document is intended to start a conversation among healthcare professionals, policy creators and researchers to consider more studies examining the journey or care pathway of a person living with type 2 diabetes and to gain a better understanding of the challenges they face living with the condition. Diabetes Ireland published a similar document in a white paper which has many of the same findings but this document includes more of the voices of people with diabetes, especially in how their diabetes was diagnosed and the judgement they received in reaction to their diagnosis. This White Paper can be read here.

Key Findings

87 respondents replied to the survey and the key findings include:

• 60% of people with type 2 diabetes surveyed reported not being referred to a community-based diabetes nurse specialist or dietitian or to Diabetes Self-Management Education

• 73% of those surveyed reported not receiving information about cardiovascular health such as blood pressure.

• However, 63% of all respondents reported that they did receive information about Diabetic Retina Screening which is an interesting trend.

Discussion

The findings suggest that the purpose of the survey was warranted and that approximately 50% of the respondents did not receive the standard of care set out in the HSE’s Model of Integrated Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, A Guide for Health Care Professionals Clinical Management Guidelines 2018 and that there is a huge lack of understanding in the community about living with the condition.

We sincerely hope that you will read this document and consider recommending more in-depth research to other healthcare professionals, policy creators, researchers, and patient support organisations on examining the experiences of people with type 2 diabetes from the point of diagnosis, how they access community-based supports and the challenges faced beyond health outcomes in living with the condition.

About the Authors

The Type 2 Diabetes Voices project was initiated in September 2020 by Valerie Humphreys, a retired teacher, living in Dublin who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017. Valerie was asked to volunteer as a patient representative on the HSE’s National Clinical Programme for Diabetes working group in 2019 and wants to use this project as a way to represent more than one voice in the room.

And Gráinne Flynn, a Bachelor of Arts Mature Student, living in Clare, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1993 and is a member of the Diabetes Ireland Advocacy Group and has been running diabetes support groups (type 1 and type 2) in Co Clare for over 15 years.

List of Type 2 Diabetes Resources

There is a list of some of the resources available for free to people with typ2 diabetes on this webpage, including A Practical Guide to Type 2 Diabetes Care, Guide to Blood Glucose Testing, and more.