Medical Aids and Appliances
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-02
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Maria Byrne (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for coming here to discuss this all-important issue. Over 300,000 people in the State currently live with diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, and many of them are on continuous glucose monitoring, CGM. It has been absolutely life-changing for people. People can lead a very healthy lifestyle with it. They are able to monitor their glucose levels and can tell if they are high or low, and they are able to administer whatever is needed, be it insulin or another medication, to themselves depending on the results. Also, healthcare professionals can monitor patients’ glucose levels and outcomes, which is important, especially when patients are accessing their clinics. There are about 500 to 700 people who are not included in the CGM cohort. It is just that they may not have been insulin-dependent at the time of their diagnosis. That they do not have the machine is an oversight. I do not believe it was intentional; it was just that the patients were not insulin-dependent. Could the Minister for Health re-examine this and determine whether the 500 to 700 people who need to be included in the scheme can be included? If they can be, it will be life-changing. So many people are so dependent on monitoring their sugar levels. I look forward to the Minister of State’s answer.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-02/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-02