Some 500 persons in Malta lose a part of their foot on an annual basis, MEP Francis Zammit Duimech said today.

“Diabetes is a serious problem affecting the lifestyle of thousands of persons and which we thus need to fight with all our efforts,” Zammit Dimech said after visiting the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) laboratories to meet researchers Cynthia Formosa and Alfred Gatt, founding member and chairman respectively of the Diabetes Foot Research Group at the University of Malta.

The researchers spoke about the need to have more up-to-date information and data of persons with diabetes in Malta. Zammit Dimech, who is the Co-chair of the EU Diabetes Working Group at the European Parliament, recalled how last week, the Regional Manager of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe, had also raised the need to have more data on diabetes across the EU. Zammit Dimech added that this was crucial not only for scientists, but also for policy makers to take concrete actions. Several people who have diabetes are unaware of their condition. In this regard, the possibility of a population based screening and an extensive standardised diabetes register facilitating exchange of data across the EU was also discussed during the meeting.

Zammit Dimech was given a tour of the labs and shown ongoing ground-breaking research carried out in the labs with the assistance of high-tech equipment in collaboration with Universities in the UK. He was briefed about the services provided by the research group to Mater Dei Hospital. Zammit Dimech thanked the researchers for their work, and spoke about the importance for such research to be given due recognition.

Zammit Dimech reiterated his call for more investment in research. He recalled how a research team from the University of Malta had found a less invasive screening method that could detect cancer earlier. “This confirms that we have high skilled researchers in Malta who can deliver important results if they are provided with the right tools and support. Even if we are a small country and have a small pool of researchers, we can still leave our mark on a European level,” he added. Zammit Dimech said that this was even more necessary when indications are that diabetes in Malta is on the rise currently standing at some 18%.

Whilst welcoming the decrease in amputations over the past decade, Zammit Dimech said that numbers were still relatively high and that more commitment was needed from all stakeholders to fight the silent epidemic. According to the international working group on the diabetic foot, every 20 seconds a lower limb is amputated due to diabetes. 85% of all amputations are caused by a foot ulcer and can be preventable. In Malta, the majority of amputations are linked to Diabetes.

Zammit Dimech has over the past year, made 5 appeals to the Government on diabetes. This led to the provision of continuous glucose monitors for children, the introduction of a parliamentary committee to discuss diabetes and the availability of a diabetic nurse in the Gozo Hospital. He is currently meeting more stakeholders, and in the coming days will be presenting a document with proposals on how to step up the fight against diabetes. “Diabetes will remain a top priority in my work at the European Parliament,” added Zammit Dimech.