19 Aug 2011

Source: Irish Times

AS MANY as 30,000 people in Ireland have diabetes without being aware of it, a study has found.

A screening programme involving more than 19,000 people has shown that in excess of 2,400 individuals have either diabetes or pre-diabetes.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been identified by the Institute of Public Health as one of the most serious health issues facing this country. It estimates that the number of people with the disease will reach almost 200,000 by 2015, an increase of 37 per cent from 2008.