
Drugs just as good as bariatric surgery for diabetic kidney disease
A new study has shown that ongoing improvements in drug treatments for diabetes has made them just as effective as bariatric surgery for diabetic kidney disease.
Up to now bariatric surgery was established as more effective than drug treatments…

Diabetes drug can reduce weight by four stone in patients with obesity
New diabetes drug promises substantial control over diabetes and obesity
A study on a new diabetes drug has found that it can help to reduce weight by up to four stone in 40% of patients with obesity.
Obesity affects more than a million people…

Surgery set to become a treatment option for type 2 diabetes in Ireland
A new HIQA report published this week (Tues, July 26) has concluded that surgery is not only safe but may be the most effective treatment for many patients with type 2 diabetes caused by obesity, based on a review of research from around the…

New obesity drug found to cut body weight by 11%
Drug can reduce weight by two stone within six months
A new obesity drug researched in Ireland has been found to cut body weight by 11%, and doctors are calling it a major breakthrough.
The drug Cagrilintide works by increasing…

IrSPEN 2021 Award for Best Overall Research Project, BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics (join Trinity-TU Dublin) programme
Alice Eaton (Bsc) has been awarded the prize for best overall research project 2021 for her final year project in the BSc Human Nutrition & Dietetics course 2020.
Alice Eaton is a CORU registered dietitian who graduated this year…

Call for Over 70s to receive nutrition screening at flu vaccination
Routine nutrition screening recommended for 58,000 receiving Home Care support
The introduction of nutritional screening as part of winter flu vaccination appointments for over 70s – has been recommended by nutrition experts.
In its…

Major Progress in Treatments Prompts Doctors to Redefine Diabetes Remission
A new international report has recognised the major progress in treating type 2 diabetes – and prompted a new medical definition of ‘diabetes remission’.
In light of increasing numbers of patients achieving diabetes remission – the…


IrSPEN 2022 Pre-Budget Submission: Addressing the gaps in nutritional care for patients with high-risk conditions in community settings
In its submission, the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN), with the support of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI) focuses on three recommendations that have the potential to protect…

Specialist unit for Intestinal Failure badly needed in our health service
Consultant Gastroenterologist at St James’s Hospital and Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN) Director Dr Cara Dunne sets out current services for Intestinal Failure in Ireland and the case for urgent development
Intestinal…

Congratulations to our IrSPEN2021 Poster Winners
The IrSPEN Board is pleased to announce the IrSPEN2021 Poster Winners. As expected, the standard of poster submissions this year was very high. Our seven winners were selected based on a number of criteria, most important of…

Call to develop specialist unit for Intestinal Failure
HSE must reduce mortality among patients with intestinal failure
Major National Conference taking place on Repositioning Nutrition in Healthcare
A dedicated unit to treat and rehabilitate patients with Intestinal Failure is urgently needed,…


Guide to using Malnutrition Risk Screening Tools
The purpose of this module is:
To highlight the importance of identifying adults at risk of malnutrition and
To provide step-by-step training on how to complete four validated tools for adults suitable for different healthcare settings.…

Launching of two National Policies for Disability Services
Description
Two National Policies for Disability Services will be launched via webinar on March 12, 2021. These are the:
1. Food, Nutrition and Hydration Policy for Adults Accessing Disability Services
The purpose of this policy is…

Reports of malnutrition in COVID patients on CPAP
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) that is delivered by face mask or hood is increasingly used in patients with COVID-19 who have been admitted to hospital, often on general or respiratory wards. Oral intake of food and drink…

People with diabetes and obesity should be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination
Continuity of treatment for all patients with diabetes and obesity recommended as part of COVID-19 response
People with diabetes and people with obesity should be prioritised for early COVID-19 vaccination, according to both Metabolic…

IrSPEN 2020 Award for Best Overall Research Project, BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics (join Trinity-TU Dublin) programme
Aine Ryan (Bsc) has been awarded the prize for best overall research project 2020 for her final year project in the BSc Human Nutrition & Dietetics course 2020.
Áine Ryan is a CORU registered dietitian who graduated this…

Surgery can free two thirds of patients with type 2 diabetes from use of insulin
Surgery more effective and cheaper than insulin for people with severe type 2 diabetes
Surgery has been found to be more effective and cheaper than insulin for patients with type 2 diabetes – and can free the majority from future use of…

Length of hospital stays can be shortened – with new standard for inpatient nutrition
Nutrition screening and treatments will help hospitalised Covid-19 patients
Reducing inpatient malnutrition estimated to save 30,000 bed days and €24m per year
30,000 bed days and €24m can be saved across Irish public hospitals per…

VIRTUAL LAUNCH: Dec 8th, 2020 13.45 Briefing and guidance on new National Clinical Guideline 22 for Hospital Nutrition
Don't miss out on an online briefing and guidance session on the new National Clinical Guideline (22) on hospital nutrition which is mandatory for all public hospitals.
The virtual event will be attended…

Call on HSE to make proven Obesity Treatment available to public patients
Call on HSE to make proven Obesity Treatment available to public patients
‘Daily injection’ treatment protects patients with obesity against diabetes and possibly COVID-19
30/10/2020 – NHS approved to make obesity drug available to public…

Urgent need for specialist unit for adults with intestinal failure
The management of adult severe intestinal failure and home parenteral nutrition urgently requires a national specialist centre, according to IrSPEN.
Tara Horan reports
A DEDICATED SPECIALIST intestinal rehabilitation unit for adults is urgently…

Malnutrition Awareness Week – October 5-9, 2020
Help reduce the incidence of malnutrition and improve patient outcomes by joining us on October 5-9 for ASPEN's Malnutrition Awareness Week™! Our 2020 program offers live CE and non-CE webinars, on-demand videos, and a wide…

Call for Action Healthcare experts call to improve the nutritional care of cancer patients
On 21 September, during the ESPEN-ONCA-MNI Joint Session at ESPEN Virtual Congress 2020, cancer patients’ representatives, dietitians, cancer care givers and industry emphasised the importance of nutritional care during cancer…

RapidInfo4U – Have a query? Search our Repository.. Ask us a Question
Do you have a question related to Covid-19 in your clinical area (either directly related or as a result of practice change)? RapidInfo4U Healthcare Repository is an initiative aiming to implement an online rapid resource repository that…

Coronavirus News: Guidelines for Nutrition support of COVID-19 patients
NEW DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
Many patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 admitted to ICU will require artificial nutrition support.
To provide help to those dealing with ventilated patients who need feeding, newly developed Guidelines…

Surgery can achieve 80% remission in patients with early Chronic Kidney Disease
Call to provide more surgical treatments to patients with Kidney Disease
Ireland has been called on to offer more gastric surgery to people with kidney disease related to type 2 diabetes – as new research has shown 80% of patients can achieve…

COVID-19: Obesity patients must not be ‘stigmatised’ in re-start of non-COVID health treatments
Doctors publish ‘triage plan’ for obesity and diabetes treatments post-COVID-19
Doctors have cautioned against patients with obesity being ‘stigmatised’, in the re-start of non-COVID health treatments.
The Irish Society for Clinical…

Consultation on the Critical Care Programme’s ‘Intensive care nutrition support guideline algorithm for adults’
This is an update of the 2012/2013 algorithm and reference document. The objective of the nutrition support algorithm and guidance (see attached) is to assist and support the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinician and multidisciplinary…

Nutrition screening to be introduced for all patients admitted to hospital
Treatment of malnutrition to be strengthened in hospitals
New nutrition protocols of benefit to Covid-19 patients
30,000 bed days and €24m can be saved per year – as experts welcome new National Clinical Guideline
Screening…

The National Clinical Programme in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Guidance for Nutrition relating to COVID-19
Version 1.0 20th April 2020
Background
It is important at this time that we continue to reinforce the importance of good nutritional care and the role it plays in defining both short-…

VITAMIN D CAN HELP BUILD RESISTANCE TO RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, INCLUDING COVID-19
VITAMIN D CAN HELP BUILD RESISTANCE TO RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, INCLUDING COVID-19
Researchers from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and Trinity College Dublin (Trinity) have found that taking Vitamin D supplements may enhance resistance…

Healthy Eating for Cancer Survivors Cookbook
UCC in collaboration with Breakthrough Cancer Research are delighted to launch their latest free cookbook for cancer patients 'Healthy Eating for Cancer Survivors'. The book is a similar size to our previous cancer cookbooks and contains all…


Webinar: Effects of Metabolic Surgery on Diabetic Early Stage Kidney Disease – July 7 @ 1pm GMT
Click here for registration instructions
Click here to register
July 7th: Effects of metabolic surgery on early stage diabetic kidney disease
Metabolic surgery is an established option for the treatment of medically uncontrolled…

Webinar on Working remotely in Dietetics in our new normal July 7th, 2020 @ 6.30pm
Our speakers will discuss both professional and practical issues of delivering healthcare remotely, to help embrace this new way of working.
About this Event
Due to the current pandemic, delivering healthcare…