In Ireland, an estimated 190,000 people (5.6% of the population) have diabetes, according to the HSE.
Among them, approximately 30,000 (15%) have Type 1 diabetes, genetic, or secondary causes of diabetes. The other 160,000 (85%) have Type 2 diabetes, which can be hereditary but is often triggered by a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.
Some 20 to 30% of these patients with Type 2 diabetes are unaware they even have the condition and in the next 10 to 15 years, the number of people with Type 2 diabetes in Ireland is expected to increase by 60%.
