Hansard

I join colleagues in congratulating Clare Adamson on securing the debate, and I genuinely thank her for the compassionate and passionate way in which she has worked on the issue. She joined me at the meeting that we had with the JDRF, at which we heard some extraordinary and moving contributions, in particular from young families. She mentioned young Anna, who touched all of us on that day. We thought that the politicians were the centre of attention, but I assure members that young Anna was the centre of attention.

I also want to pay tribute to the JDRF. It is the leading global charity in the area and is leading research that will benefit people not only in Scotland but right across the world. I thank the charity for its hard work and dedication on this important issue.

Although colleagues have already mentioned some of the statistics, I will run through them again quickly. Scotland has the third-highest incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world. More than 29,000 people in Scotland live with the condition. As Alex Rowley said, the condition is increasing at a rate of 4 per cent a year and its increase is particularly prevalent in children under five. At the same time, Scotland-based research is receiving £3.9 million from the JDRF, and research projects based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee are looking at complications of and treatments for type 1 diabetes.

I want to focus my remarks on how we can improve matters in Scotland, and on some key asks of the Government—indeed, of all political parties. It came across clearly at our meeting that what drives people who suffer from type 1 diabetes is the hope of a cure. That is why the 19 research universities and higher education institutions that are playing their part in a collaboration between industry, academia and clinicians are recognised worldwide. We in Parliament can take pride in Scotland’s potential to be the global leader and to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.

I congratulate the Scottish Government, via the chief scientist office, for pledging £1 million annually to research on type 1 diabetes. I ask the Government whether there is a plan to expand funding for research in the coming years. The JDRF is working closely with the chief scientist office to develop research fellowships in Scotland. Will the Scottish Government commit to supporting the fellowships so that we can widen the research that is aimed at prevention, treatment and a cure for type 1 diabetes? Much important research is happening in Scotland. Can we have a commitment that not only will that research be published and acknowledged but that it will lead to action in Scotland to widen access to, and use of, pumps and continuous glucose monitoring, and that we will share that knowledge and best practice with other parts of the UK—indeed, with the world?

One of the overarching messages that we got from the meeting was about the need for public awareness to stop the confusion between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. I hope that we have played a part today in creating more awareness; it would be helpful if we could create awareness more generally in the public.

We have heard about the increasing availability of pumps and the extra funding, which are to be welcomed. What level will that be rolled out at in all parts of Scotland? We do not know the details yet about individual health boards. We need to avoid any kind of postcode lottery among health boards—we need uniform access to insulin pumps throughout Scotland. How can we accelerate the delivery of CGM and ensure that access to it is uniform throughout Scotland?

Finally, as someone who has employed an individual with type 1 diabetes, I do not think that we sufficiently acknowledge the impact that type 1 diabetes can have on the individual, whether at school, at college or university, or in the workplace. More work can be done to ensure that we educate employers and educators about how they can support people with type 1 diabetes much more meaningfully.

I genuinely hope that Scotland can find a cure and be a beacon of hope for the rest the world.