A series of parliamentary questions have revealed an interesting snapshot into the state of diabetes in Malta, with close to 10% of people in the country living with the condition.

Spurred on by MP Claudette Buttigieg, Health Minister Chris Fearne tabled figures showing current insight into the condition.

Diabetes, a group of diseases which essentially affect how your body uses blood sugar, has long been a priority for the government, with 31,709 people currently living with the condition in Malta.

1,624 people have Type 1, which occurs when a person’s own immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, while just over 30,000 people live with type 2, which usually refers to a progressive resistance to the effects of insulin.

Type 2 is more common in the middle-aged and elderly. However, it is becoming more common in young people too.

Worryingly, increasingly unhealthy lifestyles mean that the number of people with diabetes is expected to grow, with roughly 5,000 new cases every single year.

Last year, however, there were just over 6,000 new cases, giving some indication to the growing problem.  Meanwhile, research published by the International Diabetes Federation found that by 2045, 45.2% of Maltese adults will likely have the condition

Living with diabetes, especially in the long-term, can have a significant effect on a person’s health. In 2018, around 6,000 people landed in the hospital with complications to the heart, eyes, and circulation, brought on by the condition,

The government has identified the problem, launching a national strategy in 2015 that will conclude next year. With screening for the condition improving over the years, it remains to see how the government will look to tackle the issue in the long term.

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