Endocrine Abstracts

Hospital outpatient diabetes clinics in Ireland face increasing demand with the rising prevalence of diabetes. Understanding the characteristics of patients awaiting review can inform service planning, including the transition of care to the community diabetes service. A waiting list initiative was undertaken whereby existing referrals to University Hospital Kerry were reviewed and demographic and clinical data were gathered. Socioeconomic profile was characterised using address data and the Pobal HP deprivation index. Of 123 adults with diabetes on the outpatient waiting list, 55 were deemed suitable for the community diabetes service. Of these 55 people, the mean age was 62 years and the mean HbA1c at triage was 66 mmol/l/mol, with an average of 1.7 non-insulin glucose lowering medications per person. The mean time spent on waiting list was 109 days (median 117, range 14–275). The mean Pobal HP Deprivation Index score was −3.23, categorised as marginally below average. Co-morbidities included ischaemic heart disease (15%), nephropathy (13%), foot disease (7%), heart failure (5%), and retinopathy (4%). Almost half of adults with diabetes awaiting a hospital outpatient appointment are eligible for transition to the community diabetes service. This can reduce the burden on hospital diabetes clinics, creating capacity for people with type 1 diabetes, complex type 2 diabetes on insulin, and facilitate universal roll out of diabetes technology. The cohort includes individuals from modestly disadvantaged areas, highlighting the need for equitable access to timely and appropriate diabetes care in both hospital and community settings.