Continuous Glucose Monitoring is still only given to people with diabetes aged up to 23, PN MEP candidate Peter Agius has highlighted.

Posting on Facebook, Agius said that there are more than 1,600 Maltese affected by diabetes. As a person with diabetes he spoke to explained, "Those with type 1 diabetes are at risk of losing consciousness when their blood sugar level drops. Therefore, they need a way to monitor their blood sugar."

"Technology provides a solution through a device called a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). This technology costs around €70 per week. In many European countries, this is covered by the national healthcare system. In Malta, the Government has promised for years to provide it for free, even in electoral manifestos and statements by Minister Chris Fearne. So far, CGMs are only given to individuals under 23 years old. Recently, the Government announced an extension of the age range, but everyone is still in the dark about whether it will be given to everyone or not. It makes no sense to discriminate based on age."

Last December, the Maltese Diabetes Association said it was disappointed that the government did not honour its commitment to extend the provision of Continuous Glucose Monitors to all people with type 1 diabetes aged up to 35 by the end of the year (2022). The Association had at the time recalled the government's commitment that CGMs will be extended to persons living with type 1 diabetes aged up to 35 years by end of 2022 and to all persons living with type 1 by 2023.