Background: It is well recognised that management of young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) poses difficult challenges for physicians and health care organisations as a whole. In Ireland and in particular the west of Ireland there has been little audit or research on young adults with T1DM and the services available to them.
Design: In 2011 a retrospective review of this patient population in our territory referral centre was carried out.
Results: The average glycaemic control in this population was poor at 81mmols/mol and diabetes related complications were present in 32%. Engagement by this population with services was poor with an average of 3 missed clinic appointments over a 24 month period.
Conclusion: These results have prompted a re think of how health care professionals can deliver a service that better suits the needs of this challenging patient group.
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