The fight against diabetes cannot start and end with the ministry but it was up to every individual to take the challenge, Health Minister Joe Cassar said yesterday during a press conference marking World Diabetes day.
Four per cent of deaths in Malta in 2008 are caused by diabetes
Nearly 12 per cent of the adult population in Malta has diabetes, placing the island at the topmost rank of diabetes prevalence in Europe.
Diabetes awareness activities in Malta were launched on Friday and included the Blue Monument Challenge, which takes place in more than 45 countries. Fort Manoel, the Sacra Infermeria and the War Monument were lit up in blue, a colour synonymous with this day.
The world was facing one of the largest health challenges and every single person had to do his own part to help prevent the increase in a condition which perpetrated serious chronic diseases, Dr Cassar said.
“Our life is in our own hands and it’s up to us to choose the stairs, rather than the lift, to eat fruit and vegetables, rather than junk food,” he said.
The fifth edition of the International Diabetes Federation’s atlas showed that the number of people living with diabetes was expected to rise to 552 million by 2030 from 366 million in 2011.
IDF estimated that 52.8 million of European adults would have diabetes by the end of this year, rising to 64.2 by 2030. Additionally, 19 million people are living with diabetes but are yet to be diagnosed.
Europe accounts for one third of the total global spending on diabetes care. The IDF European office urged European governments to provide adequate care for people living with diabetes or risk higher health costs due to complications.
In the meantime, the Labour Party urged the government to assure the implementation of prevention measures, including promoting a balanced diet and physical activity.
In a statement issued yesterday, health spokesman Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said that according to the Demographic Review, published by NSO in 2010 for 2008, four per cent of deaths in Malta were caused by diabetes.