All health centres and clinics will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. this weekend for people to check themselves for diabetes and take a risk assessment.

This service will also be available at Baystreet in Paceville on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Baystreet service is being offered by the Malta Medical Students Association.

Speaking on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Health Minister Joe Cassar said that the prevalence of diabetes was very high in Malta and according to the European Health Interview Survey of 2008, 9.2 per cent of the population knew they had diabetes. Six per cent of them were being treated medically.

Dr Cassar said that while the old Mediterranean diet was excellent, “now we’re eating anything but”.

Consultant diabetologist Stephen Fava said that Malta had more than its fair share of diabetes, the prevalence of which was increasing worldwide because of lifestyle. He emphasized the importance of healthy food and exercise to prevent and treat diabetes.

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