It is not known how many Maltese people are suffering from Type 2 diabetes or are pre-disposed to the disease, a study has shown.

Although Malta has always had a high rate of diabetes, a metabolic disease where a person has high levels of sugar in the blood, two doctors found “estimates” were used to gauge the disease over the past 33 years.

The researchers also suggested developing a mobile phone app

Although Type 2 diabetes – when the body does not produce or use insulin to break down the glucose – was a sustained health burden, “we do not really know how many diabetics and pre-diabetics reside in the Maltese islands and whether their needs are being largely met”.

Published in the Malta Medical Journal, the study looked into the history of diabetes in the country and called for updated prevalence studies that would look into risk factors, genetics and preventive strategies.

Carried out by Sarah Cuschieri and Julian Mamo, it called for a national plan and an accurate age-gender profile to control the disease. Malta has no national diabetes plan or diabetes register. The study also highlighted a lack of established preventative or screening protocols for diabetes.

These shortcomings were recently highlighted in a report released by a Swedish research organisation, which pointed out that data on diabetes care, procedures and treatment outcomes in Malta were obscure or non-existent, making assessments very difficult.

In reaction to the report, the health authorities said a national diabetes strategy would be launched for consultation towards the end of the year. The health authorities this year set up a steering group with the remit to draw up a national strategy for diabetes.

With such plans in the pipeline, a prevalence study would be an “opportunity” to look at the current generation of Maltese and their changing determinants and diabetes risk factors such as obesity and insulin resistance.

It was also a “critical point” to study the Maltese pre-diabetic population by linking prevalence to predisposition and risk factors, which could ultimately lead to Type 2 diabetes.

The researchers said this type of study was expected to start at the end of this year and will look into one per cent of the adult Maltese population. The aim is to come up with valid and reliable updated Type 2 diabetes prevalence figures together with first obesity, hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption prevalence study.

With these figures in hand, a prevention strategy, a diabetes policy and achievable population targets can then be accurately established to enable an evidence basis for diabetes control plans.

Another strategy should also be implemented through broad action to prevent the primary causes: lack of exercise, poor diet and obesity. The diabetes prevalence study could then be used for updated health policies.

The researchers also suggested developing a mobile phone app that would help individuals measure their risk of developing or having a disease such as diabetes.

This could be incorporated into primary care practice by patients, health insurers and health professionals.

Identifying those having the highest predisposing pre-diabetes risk factors and formulating a pre-diabetic risk score would help pick up susceptible subjects at an early stage.

This information, forming part of a national diabetes plan, would enable the Maltese health services to “be better equipped to come to grips with this ever-growing epidemic while helping improve the quality of life of those affected by the disease”.