Hundreds of commuters and shoppers who made their way into the capital were yesterday tested for diabetes as part of an awareness programme organised by medical students on occasion of World Diabetes Day.

About 75 medical students turned up at the City Gate stand in Valletta, and took the blood pressure, sugar level and body mass index of about 700 people, said Darlene Muscat, who was one of the students who helped organise the event.

Ms Muscat said that most of the people tested were women and the majority were aged over 40.

These people, or patients, were provided with sugar-free snacks, apples and water and were also given information about diabetes.

The theme of this year's World Diabetes Day world-wide campaign is 'Diabetes in Children and Adolescents'. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and can strike children at any age, even toddlers.

Yet diabetes in children is often diagnosed late or misdiagnosed completely. Early diagnosis and education are crucial to reducing complications and saving lives.

Ms Muscat explained that the campaign aimed to raise awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. She pointed out that type 2 diabetes was associated with obesity and, as several reports showed, Malta had one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the world.

A Global Diabetes Walk will be held in Republic Street, Valletta, on Wednesday at 1 p.m.