Sir, – Diabetes Ireland must respond to the article “Is Ireland failing its heroin addicts?” (Brian O’Connell, January 9th). The comments made by two healthcare professionals in the article are not helpful in combating discrimination that many people with diabetes face due to misunderstandings about diabetes. Insulin must be taken as an injection at the specified times or risk ill-health, hospitalisation or worse.
Diabetes Ireland understands the healthcare professionals’ position in advocating that all methadone users should be able to live a normal life. However, as non-diabetes healthcare professionals, they are probably unaware that using heroin and insulin in the one sentence is insensitive to those people who, to protect their health, must at times take their insulin injection in public places and have at times suffered verbal abuse as a result.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition affecting one in 500 young people in Ireland. The destruction of the pancreatic beta cells means that all these individuals must take insulin regularly to sustain life. Unfortunately, insulin can only be given by injection. Regrettably, confusion occasionally causes a bystander to mistake the self-injection of life-saving insulin for illegal intravenous drug injection or “shooting-up”.
Indeed, last year, an Irish celebrity was wrongly reported in the press as taking recreational drugs when he was seen taking his insulin injection in a public place.
People with diabetes have obviously always wished to maintain clear blue water between diabetes and drug addiction. Such comparisons as in this article by those doctors are unhelpful in furthering public understanding either about drug addiction or diabetes. Diabetes Ireland would wish that all professionals update their current knowledge of diabetes and remain sensitive to the views of people who have it. – Yours, etc,