World Diabetes Day marked, Government and Opposition in disagreement over screening

Global diabetes is out of control although half of all diabetes cases have not yet been diagnosed, the International Diabetes Federation said.

In a statement issued by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) on the occasion of World Diabetes Day which is celebrated worldwide on 14 November, it said that new estimates show that 371 million people have diabetes and 187 million are still to be diagnosed.

IDF said: "The high number of undiagnosed diabetes cases means that millions of people are at risk of costly and debilitating diabetes complications, including nerve and kidney disease.

The Federation noted that 2012 figures show that the upward trend will continue and by the end of the year, 4.8 million people will have died from diabetes related complications. Half of these deaths will be in people under the age of 60.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister Joe Cassar and Opposition MP became embroiled in a war of words over the national screening programme.

In a press conference to mark the day, Cassar underlined the free accessibility to all to free regular sugar level check-ups.

Earlier, Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said that "unfortunately Malta ranked among countries with the highest incidence of diabetes," and government had not yet set up a national screening programme, emphasising the need for government to introduce of a national screening programme to combat the disease and act as a preventive measure.

Minister Cassar retorted by pointing out that through the health centres, all patients had free accessibility to undergo the simple and very brief sugar level tests.

Cassar encouraged everyone to test for the condition, which one may be able to prevent by leading a healthy lifestyle.