Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May recounted her own experience of being diagnosed with diabetes while addressing Malta's parliament on Saturday, urging lawmakers to improve public understanding of the condition and expand access to vital medical technology.
She spoke at the Global Parliamentary Champions for Diabetes conference, which gathered legislators from around the world to discuss issues related to diabetes.
May opened her speech by describing how she learned she had type 1 diabetes in 2012, during her time as Home Secretary, when she was overseeing security for the London Olympics that summer.
"Even though I was aware of diabetes symptoms, when I started losing weight, feeling exhausted, and constantly needing to drink water, I assumed it was simply the pressure of that year," she explained. She added that she was diagnosed only by "chance," after developing a severe cough and undergoing blood tests.
She emphasized the need to help people recognize symptoms early so that no one is left undiagnosed.
"I had to adjust to this while working in a highly demanding role. My blood sugar would even rise before answering parliamentary questions," she noted.
May also highlighted the value of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people managing diabetes. She mentioned her own use of the FreeStyle Libre.
She recalled attending an event with US President Donald Trump while wearing a sleeveless evening dress, which made the device on her arm visible. A general practitioner later told her that many women with diabetes had asked about the monitor after seeing those images.
May served as a Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2024, as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016, and as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019. She now sits in the UK's House of Lords.
In his intervention, Speaker Anglu Farrugia highlighted the rapid escalation of diabetes worldwide and the alarming rise of both Type 1 and Type 2 cases recorded in Malta over a short period. He underscored that the data is clear, the consequences are real, and the obligation to respond is immediate, before this phenomenon becomes a crisis . While reaffirming that early detection and education remain fundamental, he stressed that these must be accompanied by stronger regulation, safer workplaces, and accountability when negligence contributes to illness.
Speaker Farrugia also mentioned that combating diabetes requires a dual strategy of universal screening and comprehensive education paired with the mandatory overhaul of the systemic infrastructure that promotes disease through unhealthy food, workplace stress, and industries that profit from societal suffering.
The Forum was also addressed by Romilda Zarb, MP, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Health in the Parliament of Malta, and Stephen Spiteri MP, Shadow Minister for Health. They spoke about the Diabetes Policy in Malta and progress made in Malta. The forum was also attended by a number of MPs from both sides of the House.