Around 10 per cent of Maltese know they suffer from diabetes but many more are likely to be unaware they have the condition, according to Health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar.

Over 147 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, a figure expected to rise to around 380 million in the coming years, Dr Cassar said.

Dr Cassar was addressing a conference yesterday organised by the Malta Diabetes Association to mark World Diabetes Day.

Diabetes occurs because the body cannot absorb glucose properly, either because of a lack of insulin or because the insulin available does not work effectively.

There are two types: Type 1 diabetes, where the body is unable to produce any insulin; and Type 2, where not enough insulin is produced or the insulin that is made by the body fails to work properly.

Last Friday, the health authorities appealed to the public to take a blood test at their local health centre in an attempt to get a snapshot of the population's sugar levels.

Sliema waterpolo player John Soler, who is diabetic, had encouraging words for the young children who attended the conference. "I discovered I was diabetic when I was 22, when I already was very active."

When news of his disease came out, many people called him "as though I was about to die," he said.

"I feel very proud that I have an active life, play sports and work with my condition. I wasn't going to let it stop me and you should never give up," he said.