Paediatric type 1 diabetes in Ireland results of the first national audit

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the services provided for children with type 1 diabetes in the Republic of Ireland, and to identify a baseline from which services and outcomes might be improved. Lead clinicians in 17 of the 19 centres providing paediatric type 1 diabetes care responded to requests for information from 2012 regarding demographics, patient numbers, diagnostics, outpatient management, multidisciplinary team resources, comorbidity screening, transition policy, clinical guidelines, and use of insulin pumps. The total number of patients attending these centres was 2518. Eight centres initiate insulin pump therapy. Insulin pump usage ranged from 0 to 42% of patients attending each centre. Self reported clinic mean haemoglobin A1c ranged from 8.2 to 9.4% (66.1 to 79.2 mmol/mol). Variation existed in guideline availability, frequency of clinic appointments, age of transition and insulin types used. We recommend a national approach to standardising and improving care for these patients.