12 Jun 2006

'Making Diabetes Count'
12th June 2006
Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, Dublin

The launch of first report of The Irish Diabetes Prevalence Working Group, Ireland and Northern Ireland's Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO), Institute of Public Health in Ireland will be held on 12 June 2006.

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic condition that causes significant morbidity and mortality if not properly diagnosed and managed.  The number of people with diabetes on the island is expected to increase because our population is growing, it is ageing and obesity rates are rising.

To help monitor this important condition, the observatory initiated a programme of work to identify the best available method for estimating population prevalence on the island.
 
The work is overseen by the Irish Diabetes Prevalence Working Group established by the observatory; this is the first time that representatives from the charities, key professional organisations, and government agencies have come together to look at this issue on the island.

The report provides comprehensive population prevalence estimates based on a model from England. The estimates are disaggregated by age, sex and ethnicity. Estimates are provided for the island and for national and sub-national levels.

At the launch you will hear about the model (known as PBS), its adaptation to the island and key findings from the report, and have an opportunity to discuss the next stage of the Working Group’s work looking at the number of new cases emerging as a result of changes in our population profile and trends in obesity.