The parents of children with type 1 diabetes in Donegal are to meet with the Health Minister, Dr James Reilly, today to discuss ongoing issues relating to the deterioration in paediatric services in the county.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, not related to weight or a sedentary lifestyle. It is not preventable or reversible and is most commonly diagnosed in childhood. Around 19,000 people in Ireland are affected.

Recent figures revealed that there are 105 children under 16 with diabetes from Donegal who are attending Letterkenny General Hospital, seven of whom have been diagnosed since January 1. Meanwhile, a further 40 teenagers aged 16-18 are attending the diabetes transition clinic at the hospital.

Last month, the parents of children with type 1 diabetes held a protest outside Letterkenny General over the state of health services available to their children.

According to recommendations made by the HSE's Diabetes Expert Advisory Group, there should be one paediatric diabetes clinical nurse specialist for every 100 children and/or teenagers with diabetes. However, despite Donegal meeting this criteria, no such post is in place.

In fact, the diabetes paediatric nurse in Letterkenny General has been moved to a shared post with adult diabetes services. This, the parents insisted, deprives their children of a quality service.

Furthermore, a new integrated clinical nurse specialist post ‘will be of no assistance to children as the post is for adults with type 2 diabetes', the Donegal Branch of the national charity, Diabetes Ireland, said.

Parents have also highlighted the fact that there is no funding to develop paediatric diabetes services in the HSE's 2014 service plan for the north west. Furthermore, the nearest paediatric diabetes centre of excellence is in Dublin and the post of consultant paediatrician with a special interest in diabetes in Letterkenny Hospital remains vacant.

The parents, along with their children, are going to Dail Eireann today to present a petition to the Minister of Health, which calls for the provision of a dedicated paediatric diabetes nurse specialist at Letterkenny General. Over 10,000 signatures have already been obtained.

Meanwhile the parents are also due to meet Minister Reilly this evening to discuss the issue.

Concerned parents last met with the Minister when he visited Letterkenny General in April 2013. At that time, he told them they were ‘reasonable people with a reasonable request'.