Today is World Diabetes Day. Malta has a very high incidence of diabetes, with more than 30,000 out our population of 420,000 odd thousand population are diagnosed diabetics.

It is estimated that another 8,000 adults are also diabetics, but do not even know it. Coupled with this, Malta has one of the highest obesity rates in the world, and our children are the fattest in Europe.

Study results have shown that 49% of Maltese diabetics are obese which is an alarming figure compared to other European States. Even though it is common knowledge that diabetics should limit the amount of sugars in their diet, there was no significant difference between the diets of the diabetics and non-diabetics. Diabetic people in the study were found to have a sugar intake of 83 g/day. This means that most people in Malta have a very high sugar intake level.

Although diabetes is not always related to weight and lack of exercise, an overall trend has been established to show a correlation. Most Maltese people have a very low exercise level. This is the result of both sedentary jobs and lack of physical activity in the free time. Most diabetics do not seem to be making the extra effort necessary to improve their health and maintain good blood sugar levels. It comes through that diabetics do not change their lifestyle habits accordingly once they are given the diagnosis. Care for diabetics should focus more on lifestyle advice. Lifestyle changes are difficult for everyone and a lot of support is necessary to bring about this change and also maintain it, but the truth of the matter is that it must be done. This could be achieved by increasing the accessibility of nutritionists who can give regular dietary advice to diabetics and non-diabetics. A way to encourage physical activity is to initiate exercise programs on a local and national level. These programs should be accessible to the general public but they should focus on people who suffer from diabetes and obesity.

Overcoming the growing problem of diabetes should involve more than just the individual effort. The approach should involve everyone concerned on a national level with two main objectives in mind - holistic care of those who already have diabetes to improve their quality of life, and education of the general public from a very young age about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle with particular emphasis on the prevention of obesity and diabetes.

In short, we ought to drink less alcohol, less fatty and sugary food and we should also engage in more physical exercise. Obesity and related illnesses are expected to become the leading killers by the year 2050, outstripping death rates for cancer. Some countries have already begun to brace for the impact, even suggesting the possibility of introducing palliative care for the chronically obese.

We owe it to ourselves, and our children, to do more to be healthy and prevent such diseases by leading healthier lifestyles.