Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Feeney for sharing her time with me and join her in congratulating the Minister of State on her promotion, which is a distinct honour. I have known the Minister of State for many years and am sure she will excel in her new position because she has the commitment necessary to meet her new responsibilities. She will have the goodwill of everyone in this House in that regard.

I welcome much of what she has said in her contribution. Senator Fitzgerald correctly pointed out that lifestyle is a significant factor in the onset of this pervasive disease. Our emphasis should be on education, therefore. Health promotion should include avoidance of areas that lead to diabetes, particularly obesity and the consumption of many sugar-based foods and carbohydrates. I was not conscious of the effect carbohydrates have in transferring to glucose within the digestive system, as a consequence of which they can lead to high blood sugar levels. I am sure Senator Twomey will be able to correct me if I am wrong, but if I sound knowledgeable about this it is because 18 months ago I had a dry mouth, a condition to which Senator Feeney referred. I went to have it checked and the GP subsequently rang me to say my sugar levels were borderline and near the danger zone for diabetes. I said it was not too bad if it was borderline, but asked what the limit was. The doctor's reply stuck with me because he said having diabetes was a bit like being pregnant, that one cannot be a little bit pregnant — one either has it or not. He sent me to a dietician and in the meantime I checked in a DIY book I have at home, which is a medical encyclopaedia, to compare diabetes types 1 and 2. I was surprised that there are no life expectancy issues with type 1 diabetes, providing a person takes insulin. However, with type 2 diabetes there is a life expectancy issue because of the progressive nature of the disease, so that motivated me and having gone to the dietician I decided to apply the advice. I lost two stone and went back to the GP about six months later to get a baseline, which should have been done much earlier. He rang me subsequently to say there was good news: I was not suffering from diabetes and my sugar levels were half what they were before. It means however that I could well be a candidate for diabetes but hopefully by catching it in time and dealing with it, one can avoid it.

That brings me to the point because the Minister of State laid heavy emphasis in her speech on the measures that are being taken for diabetic retinopathy screening. That is absolutely essential because loss of eyesight is a terrible affliction and disability. People who suffer from diabetes are in the high risk category so we should place the emphasis on investing in such a screening programme.

As Senator Fitzgerald said, there are many people with undiagnosed diabetes and others who may well develop it within the next few years due to their diet and lifestyle. While the emphasis on screening is for registered diabetics, there should be an educational programme aimed at those with undiagnosed diabetes and others at risk. Perhaps the screening could be extended to such people so they can be checked in time. In many ways, investment in this type of diagnostic area can save a lot of money in the health service later on. Apart from loss of vision, the Minister of State mentioned other factors including kidney, liver and cardiovascular disease which is common. The cost of treating those diseases, if diabetes develops, is extremely high and therefore I advocate educating people so they are aware of the problem. In addition, screening should be provided for early detection and hopefully people will be motivated to make the necessary lifestyle changes to avoid the potential effects of diabetes. My comments are based on my experience and the limited knowledge I accumulated from it. One of the changes I made was to use the stairs rather than the lift, as my office is on the third floor. A former Minister for Health, Deputy Rory O'Hanlon, told me that when he moved into the Department he stopped using the lift and has never used it since, although he is now on the fifth floor. Once we become aware of the dangers and risks involved, small changes like that can make a difference. I am sure Senator Twomey's contribution will be much more expert than mine, given my limited medical knowledge.

I encourage the Minister of State to broaden the scope of the screening programme to reduce the future incidence of diabetes. In addition, we can add to the value of people's lives who may thus avoid the disease. I compliment and congratulate her, and wish her well in her new portfolio. I have no doubt she will discharge her responsibilities effectively. She has all our good wishes in that regard.