The Diabetes Federation of Ireland has criticised what it says is a severe shortage of specialists to treat the condition.
The federation also said that waiting lists for patients to be seen at some hospitals are unacceptably long.
An estimated 200,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes in Ireland, while a further 200,000 are unaware they have the condition.
Meanwhile, Beaumont Hospital has said there is no suggestion that the waiting time for four patients waiting to be seen by a diabetes consultant at the hospital was a contributory factor in their deaths, three of which it said occurred before 2003.
The hospital said that the rapid increase in the incidence of diabetes had put significant pressure on all health services and was a cause of concern.
An extra consultant endocrinologist is to be appointed to Beaumont Hospital in September and a new diabetes day care facility is to open in the next few months.
