Debate contribution: Diabetes Care

Debate contribution by Mr Danny Donnelly on 28 April 2025.

MLA

Mr Danny Donnelly

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

28 April 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Diabetes Care

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4914153

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I am pleased to speak in support of the motion, which highlights the challenge facing thousands of people across Northern Ireland: the growing impact of diabetes on individuals, families and our health service. I thank Cheryl Brownlee, a DUP member, for tabling the motion for debate. I had not heard of the balloon analogy, but it is very apt when talking about trying to maintain safe blood sugars. As a nurse, I am very aware of the impact of diabetes on a patient and a family and of the treatment of diabetes. I have given insulin many times and delivered other treatments. Today, almost 115,000 people in Northern Ireland are living with diabetes, and that number is rising by more than 3,000 every year. It is not just individuals who are feeling the strain; our health service is under increasing pressure too. Diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which can lead to serious complications, such as heart attacks, angina and strokes. According to Diabetes UK, complications that are linked to diabetes cost our health service £162 million a year. That figure that is projected to rise to over £290 million within the next decade. That is simply not sustainable. While the number of cases and costs are rising, the same cannot be said for standards in care, innovation, treatment or accountability in outcomes. Like Philip, I have also noticed the advances in technology that Cheryl mentioned. You will see people at sports events or running marathons and things like that with censors on. People are using the technological advances to make their life easier. They certainly are a huge benefit. We need a system that is not just reactive but forward-looking, integrated, evidence-based and focused on prevention. Northern Ireland should be part of the National Diabetes Audit just like every other region in the UK. Alliance is committed to ensuring that diabetes receives the attention that it deserves here in the Assembly, in our local health trusts and at a departmental level. We are working closely with healthcare professionals and organisations, such as Diabetes UK, to promote best practice across the board, whether that is supporting people living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to access the community-based care that they need or ensuring that women with gestational diabetes receive informed continuous support throughout their pregnancies. Early intervention and prevention matter. Community-based care matters, and those things can and do change lives. I agree with Philip McGuigan that education programmes are hugely important. It is also clear that we need more than just piecemeal improvements. We need systemic reform. Tackling diabetes properly means having a clear joined-up strategy that puts prevention, early diagnosis, education and consistent support at its heart. It means making sure that, no matter where you live in Northern Ireland, you can expect the same high standard of care as others. It means investing in community services to keep people well, not just treating complications when it is already too late. The technological advances that we mentioned, such as the hybrid closed-loop system, are making the management of blood sugars much easier for people living with diabetes every day. We need ambition, coordination and, above all, leadership. Without those, we will simply keep spending more to achieve less, and patients will continue to pay the price. It is no secret that Alliance has been calling for reform for years — reform of our institutions, our health system and the way that decisions are made. Time and time again, we see issues such as this suffer because of outdated, reactive and siloed thinking. Diabetes care is a prime example of where joined-up strategic policy would make a real difference not just to the budget but to real people every day. It would improve the health of our population and reduce the number of people who develop severe complications, such as heart disease. It is about more than just policy; it is about people. Alliance will continue to push for a diabetes strategy that is fit for the future. That is why we will support the motion.

681 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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