The Irish General Election campaign has just over one week to go and I think it's time to have a bit of fun with our election hopefuls on our doorsteps (evil, yet some-what cheeky grin). This is #GE2016
Diabetes Ireland have been posting suggestions for questions to put to your local election candidate in relation to diabetes health care on their Facebook page and Twitter feed. They have been very useful and very specific to each region, which is great!
I have had 4 candidates knock on my door since I got these question suggestions. And it's been great fun! The candidate knocks on my door, I open it, they introduce themselves and ask would I consider them come election day on the 26th February. And then I say "Wait there 10 seconds I need to get my list". The look of their faces is priceless.
They get so nervous - it's really worth it;-)
I know most of us really don't want to engage with these guys and just want to go back inside out of the cold. But, this is a very valuable opportunity for each and every one of us to know what we will be needing from them, the why and the who we are. We are putting human faces on type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
These are are just a few questions that you could ask along with other questions or issues you may have in relation to your diabetes management.
Ask Your Local Election Candidate
Limerick/Galway area. 
Type 1 Diabetes
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in both Limerick and Galway, our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
- 4 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 3 Dietitians.
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Type 2 Diabetes
To support GPs in delivering quality care under the Type 2 Diabetes Cycle of Care scheme, more podiatrists and community diabetes nurse specialists are required.
What will you do to provide a podiatrist and diabetes nurse to support GPs in my area?
Sligo, Donegal and Mayo area
Type 1 Diabetes
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in Sligo, Donegal and Mayo, our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 1 consultant paediatric endocrinologist,
- 2 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 1 Dietitian
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Cork and Kerry area
Type 1 Diabetes 
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in Cork & Kerry our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 1 consultant paediatric endocrinologist,
- 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 1 Dietitian.
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Type 2 Diabetes
Do you know 66,000 people with Type 2 diabetes have registered for the Type 2 Diabetes Cycle of Care scheme. All of these have a medical card or GP Visit card.
But what about the 100,000 Type 2 diabetes population who do not qualify for the scheme. When will they get access to the Cycle of Care scheme and get equity of care?
HSE North East and Dublin North area
Type 1 Diabetes
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care, recently launched by the Minister for Health, to meet demand in the HSE North East area and Dublin North our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
- 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 2 Dietitians.
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Dublin, Kilkenny and Wexford areas.
Type 1 Diabetes
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health and to meet demand in the Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin, Wexford General Hospital and St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 4 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
- 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 3 Dietitians.
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Dublin and Midlands areas.
Type 1 Diabetes
To implement the Paediatric Model of Care recently launched by the Minister for Health and to meet demand in AMNCH, Tallaght and the Midlands Regional Hospitals, our children with type 1 diabetes need;
- 3 consultant paediatric endocrinologists,
- 3 Diabetes Nurse Specialists and
- 2 Dietitians
What will you do to provide these resources to care for our children?
Go on give it a go! Brave the cold outdoors... even if it's just for the entertaining reaction you get ;-)
Kevin McMahon, co-author of “Sugar SurfingTM - How to manage type 1 diabetes in a modern world” with his long time friend Stephen W. Ponder, MD CDE.
Kevin spoke at Thriveabetes 2015 in Maynooth about "There Being No Unicorns in the Land of Diabetes" in our Parents of Children with type 1 diabetes programme.
