Educational articles

Catherine Kicks Diabetes into Shape
When champion kickboxer Catherine Brady was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes six years ago, her main worry was that she could no longer train. But Catherine needn’t have worried, she has gone on to win the world ladies kick-boxing championship for the second time. Read Caterine's story

Diabetes and Neuropathy - Put your best foot forward
Foot problems are not inevitable for everyone with diabetes and most can be prevented. Read article

Food for summer
Eating outdoors always seems to make food taste better so here are our best tips to make tasty healthy picnics and barbecues Read article

Diabetes Ireland Research Alliance
The Diabetes Federation of Ireland has set up 'Diabetes Ireland Research Alliance' as a subsidiary charity to promote Ireland as a knowledge base for global diabetes research and increase the level of diabetes research being undertaken in Ireland Read article

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction
Occasionally everyone can experience problems related to sexuality. These problems may have nothing to do with diabetes but diabetes itself may cause some specific problems. Read article

Your feet and common foot infections
The feet are the most vulnerable part of the body with regard injury and infection and diabetes makes them more susceptible. Find out more on common foot infections and how to recognise/prevent them. Read article

Air travel and insulin
People with diabetes can still take insulin with them onto aircraft despite security restrictions. Read article

Dealing with illness abroad
This checklist will help you if you need to arrange emergency medical treatment abroad. Read article

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems
The Latest development in continuous glucose monitoring is one step closer to an artificial pancreas. Read article

Spring-Time for Change
Springtime, with its promise of longer days and better weather is often the best time to make a start on those long-awaited lifestyle changes but where to you start Read article 

Tablets for Type 2
Most people with type 2 diabetes will at some stage have to take tablets to lower their blood glucose, here the different types of tablets and their actions are briefly explained Read article

Sugar & Artificial Sweeteners
Food labelling can be confusing, here some of the terminology relating to Sugar & Artificial sweeteners is explained. Read article

Sleep Apnoea
Are you at risk? Risk factors, symptoms and treatments  Read article

Blood Glucose Testing
How to test your blood glucose and what your results should be - an invaluable guide. Read article

Specialist Diabetes Counsellors
There are 33 counsellors in Ireland who are trained in Diabetes care. This is one indication of how diabetes care has come a long way in recent years. Read article

Insurance and Diabetes
The insurance market shows a friendlier face today to people with diabetes than it did a few years ago. Some major breakthroughs have been achieved, but in terms of the goals of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland, it is still a work in progress.  Read article

Gestational Diabetes -Diabetes with first onset or recognition during pregnancy.About 5 % of women develop diabetes during their pregnancy usually in the 4th to 5th month. Most women who develop this condition do not have any symptoms of diabetes and the condition is most often picked up during routine ante-natal tests. Read article.

What’s so great about fruit and vegetables?
More and more research shows that a diet which is high in fibre, low in fat and in particular high in fruit and vegetables may significantly reduce the risk of many illnesses and prolong a healthy life. The risk of Heart Disease, high blood pressure, obesity and over weight are all reduced in people that have a high fibre diet which includes 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.Read article

Islet Cell Transplants –Will they cure Type 1 Diabetes?
As of the 1st April in the UK  islet cell transplantation is an accepted clinical treatment for selected people with type 1 diabetes. Six centres now accept referrals for treatment. But before you sign up, you need to be aware of the small print and possible side effects of the treatment. Read article

Driving and diabetes
When you have diabetes and your treatment puts you at risk of a “hypo”, test your blood sugar before you start your car or risk prosecution or worse. Recent legal cases highlight the need to be vigilant.Read article

Water - essential for life
Drinking enough fluids is especially important for people with diabetes.The amount of fluid we need varies from person to person - age, climate, diet and physical activity all have an influence.Read article

Archived articles 

Understanding Ketones
If you have diabetes, especially type 1, knowing about ketones is very important. In fact, if you get ill, knowing what to do about them could be life-saving!Read article

Menopause and Diabetes
The menopause simply means end of menstruation. It is generally defined as not having a menstrual period for 12 months in a row. The menopause may be natural or it may occur after a hysterectomy. The usual age for women to stop menstruating is between 45 -55 years.Read article

Cholesterol - reducing the risks
Many people with type I and type 2 diabetes need to take medication to lower their cholesterol. There are a number of medications available that will do this effectively. The two major ones are the statins and the fibrates. Read article

Understanding food labels
As we become more conscious about what we eat, food manufacturers are responding by putting more and more information on food labels. Reading food labels can sometimes be confusing, it can also inform us about what our foods contain and help us to make healthier choices. Read article

Eating well in pregnancy
Healthy eating is important throughout life, from the very early stages of pre-conception and conception right through until old age. Nutrition during pregnancy is especially important because you are supplying all the nutrients for your growing baby for at least nine whole months. Read article

Don’t let poor A1c control close the door on your new home
You must nearly always have life insurance to get a mortgage but if your diabetes is not well controlled it is difficult to get insured. Read article

Junk ads' can damage our kids
Children around the world are becoming increasingly vulnerable to overweight and obesity. The International Obesity Taskforce estimates that around 45 million of the world’s school-age children are obese – about 3% of the population of children under 5 years old.Read article

No more nightmares
For many young people and their parents, nocturnal (night-time) hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is perhaps the most feared short-term complication of diabetes. Intensive diabetes control is beneficial for all people with the condition – maintaining good blood glucose control overnight is critical in reducing the body’s exposure to high glucose. Read article

Healthy Lunch tips for back to school
It's that time of year again, uniforms, schoolbooks and the same old sandwiches. Read our Healthy Lunchbox tips to give you some new ideas.Read tips

Back to school - top tips for parents. Read tips

Eating well at Christmas
It’s the party season again folks, and at this time of the year there is often abundance of delicious foods on offer temptations around every corner. Having diabetes presents challenges at Christmas time but it doesn’t have to mean that your blood sugars go out of control or that your waistline expands. Here are some tips to help maintain good eating habits throughout the holiday period. Read article