A discussion of diabetes management in Malta was held last Tuesday at the Hilton Malta, St Julian’s.

Present at this meeting were Health Minister Joe Cassar and Roche Diabetes Care market development agency senior Ulrich Schweppe, as well as representatives from Vivian Corporation, Roche’s local marketer and distributor.

The parties discussed the important factors of an effective, holistic diabetes management strategy and how this can be implemented in Malta.

To improve the situation, people with diabetes need to understand the principles of treatment, make informed choices, cope with therelevant testing technology, and know the symptoms of the variouscomplications.

“This is why our holistic diabetes management approach aims to help patients better understand their values, make informed therapydecisions and become experts of their condition,” said Mr Schweppe.

Vivian Corporation has been selected by Roche to conduct a pilot study among the public to monitor glycaemic variability according to Roche’s Accu-Chek 360º Viewconcept. Selected patients with diabetes monitored their blood glucose level in a structured way over a period of seven months using the Roche Accu-Chek Active System. The study began last November and will end in May.

Roche Diabetes Care, together with Vivian Corporation, has proposed that the study may be extended to cover a bigger number of Maltese citizens with diabetes.

All selected patients will be shown how to perform structured testing, and interviewed regularly to assess the effect of one’s glycaemic control with such structured testing. Once the study is finalised, the results will be assessed and published.