The Maltese Diabetes Association (MDA) has urgently called on the authorities to provide a clarification on the government’s intentions beyond the six-month pilot project to provide diabetic children with free continuous glucose monitors (CGM). 

The project, which was first announced in 2018, began earlier this year, with the purpose of providing CGMs to all children and adolescents under the age of 16 who live with type 1 diabetes. However, this six-month pilot project is coming to an end, making parents anxious to know whether this project will be extended. 

In a statement published by the MDA, the association said that this project is expected to end in around eight weeks. 

The CGM is an innovative and important device that provides round the clock control and analysis of one’s diabetes. Not only has the outcome of these CGMs been successful with patients in Malta, however there is also evidence of research carried out overseas on the enormous benefits of CGMs in the management of one’s diabetes.

 The success of managing one’s diabetes is ensuring that blood glucose levels are constantly controlled. This can be achieved through the effective use of a CGM device.

 The association said it wanted the pilot project to be permanently extended to all patients living with type 1 diabetes, irrespective of age. 

"Persons living with diabetes in Malta should enjoy the same benefits as those in other EU countries. This includes the effective use of CGMs for all persons living with Diabetes. This should be seen as a long-term investment that would effectively result in better control and management of one's diabetes. Persons living with diabetes in Malta deserve this", the Association said. 

Parents of around 200 children who are using this device during this pilot project have seen a huge difference in the management of their children's diabetes. Besides improved diabetes control and blood glucose readings, the CGM has facilitated matters when their children were at school or following extra curriculum activities and have seen a drastic improvement in the blood glucose readings of their children.