Sir, – I applaud European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (Health + Family, March 19th) for adding her voice to highlight the global epidemic which is diabetes.
However, I must point out that Type 1 diabetes is not, as stated, “so-called” Type 1 diabetes, it is called that very same title. However, the name itself is misleading and a cause of great confusion to the public.
While Type 2 diabetes is lifestyle-related, preventable and recent research has shown reversible, unfortunately for people with Type 1 diabetes this is not the case.
The burden of living with Type 1 diabetes is a much more onerous, detailed and life-threatening condition. The requirement to constantly check blood sugar levels at any time of day or night and correct them by injecting with insulin is not just a simple matter of dietary management.
Discussing both conditions, which unfortunately share a similar name, in one article, without this clarification, is not helpful to the many infants, adolescents and adults with Type 1 diabetes. – Yours, etc,
ADRIENNE BOLGER ,
Iona Villas,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.