Gozitans will be able to test blood glucose level for free this week during a campaign organised by a local medicine distribution company to raise awareness about diabetes.

Vivian Corporation will be setting up an information centre at It-Tokk in Victoria, where the public can ask questions, collect information and check their glucose level. The free service will go on for the whole week in Gozo pharmacies.

The company will organise a similar event on November 17 when those who took the first test will be invited to take a second free test. This will allow the monitoring of the glucose levels over a two-month period.

“The aim of this exercise will be for us to try and draw a general profile of the incidence of diabetes in Gozo. Therefore, the public’s participation in this drive is very important because it will help us understand better how Gozo looks at diabetes and to what extent Gozitans acknowledge the importance of taking this condition seriously,” said Yan Grima, product specialist at Vivian Corporation representing Roche Diagnostics.

He said the awareness campaign followed the outcome of a recent study carried out by the company that showed that regular monitoring of blood glucose helped people with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

“When persons with diabetes monitor their blood glucose regularly they will feel more in control and this increases their confidence in managing their diabetes condition. It’s a chain reaction,” Mr Grima said.

It is estimated that 10 per cent of the Maltese population suffer from some form of diabetes. Complications of diabetes include problems with kidneys, nerves, feet and eyes. Other long-term complications of diabetes can result in skin problems, digestive problems, sexual dysfunction and problems with teeth and gums.