The slogan chosen for this year’s World Diabetes Day, Diabetes Care for Everyone, aims to raise awareness of the condition and of acts that discriminate against diabetics, said Malta Diabetes Society President Anna Zammit McKeon yesterday.

The society was commemorating World Diabetes Day.

Mrs Zammit McKeon said this year’s campaign focuses on diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable, as diabetics are victims. She said Malta has a very high level of diabetes care. A few months ago the Health Department included analogue insulin, Glargin, in the list of medicines that can be distributed free of charge. Mrs Zammit McKeon said the society appreciates this step as a sign that the government is willing to provide new treatment for Maltese diabetics.

However she said that there are still a number of problems that affect diabetic patients. Patients still have to wait 10 months before being visited by a specialist, which may be too late, as problems may worsen irreversibly. Another problem that besets diabetics is the correct disposal of syringes and needles. The society had asked the Health Department to issue guidelines for diabetics but it felt that these guidelines are not satisfactory.

Not only do diabetics face medical problems, they also face social problems, said Mrs Zammit McKeon. She complained that certain heads of school and teachers do not always cooperate, and as a result diabetic children tend to be emarginated.

As an example, she said, they are not allowed to participate in activities outside the school unless accompanied by their parents.

Mrs Zammit McKeon thanked the St Luke’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic consultants, doctors and nurses for their sterling work.

She thanked Prof. Joe Azzopardi and Dr Antoine Schranz who have now retired from hospital service, and congratulated the clinic’s new director, Dr Stephen Fava.

Dr Fava said school tuck shops should provide healthier food and stressed the importance of educating children about the importance of watching their diet, as this could have serious consequences for them in the future. He pointed out that obesity is conducive to diabetes.

The society is participating in an International Diabetes Federation campaign called Unite for Diabetes. The

federation is organising a petition in which it is asking the United Nations to recognise 14 November as UN World Diabetes Day.

Mrs Zammit McKeon asked the public to sign the petition, which can be found on www.unitedfordiabetes.org