Today's lesson: How to fight diabetes

The threat of diabetes has to be fought at classroom level since the rate of obesity among adolescents is on the increase, Italian professor Alberto Zambon believes.

"We need to teach people what to eat and the importance of exercise. Otherwise, it's a lost battle because the rate of diabetes will continue increasing and at some point we will no longer be able to treat everyone," he said, during a short visit to Malta last week.

Adolescence is one of two crucial moments in a person's life which will determine whether he will be an obese adult, the other being the foetal and early infancy stage.

"A fat child or teenager is five to 10 times more likely to be fat as an adult, with the complications that it brings with it," Prof. Zambon, the director of Padua University's Lipoprotein Core Laboratory, told The Times.

Among these complications is the increased risk of type 2 diabetes, which in turn raises the risk of strokes and heart attacks. In fact, Prof. Zambon said, eight out of every 10 diabetics died of cardiovascular problems, with the life expectancy of diabetics being three to five years shorter.

Moreover, Prof. Zambon said, diabetes also had a negative effect on patients' quality of life, and could lead to blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations.

"People with diabetes lead shorter and worse lives," he said, before addressing a talk for doctors on diabetes, organised Solvay Pharma.

Moreover, diabetes was on the rise among teenagers who were following a bad diet and did not exercise.

The financial impact is enormous, with a recent study in Italy showing that each diabetic patient cost the health system some €2,600 per year.

Last March, Social Policy Minister John Dalli told Parliament the average cost of treating diabetic patients varied between €22.67 and €43.71 per month, depending on the prescribed therapy.

According to the Maltese Diabetes Association more than 30,000 Maltese were diagnosed with diabetes.

"Most healthcare officials look at costs in the short term but in the long run prevention is much better than cure, even when it comes to cutting costs. You need to prevent from a very early stage," he said.

Prof. Zambon admitted that the situation was likely to get worse before it got better: "Although physicians are more aware of the situation, we need a more comprehensive approach from the health authorities who actively promote exercise and healthy eating."