National diabetes programme in Malta : final report.

Abstract

It has been suspected for many years that diabetes mellitus is common among the Maltese population. This was emphasized by the studies of Professor Zammit Maempel in which it was estimated that up to 20% of the total population had diabetes mellitus, mostly of the adult onset type. This estimated prevalence is far higher than in any European population, approaching the levels found in the Pima Indians and inhabitants of certain Pacific islands. Diabetes and its complications are a considerable load on the resources of the health services. As a result the Ministry of Health of Malta approached WHO, Yugoslavia and Belgium requesting assistance to launch a diabetes programme. This resulted in the formation of the National Diabetes Programme in Malta. This programme is planned to cover various aspects of the epidemiology, natural history and clinical care of diabetes. More comprehensive health services for diabetics will be developed and facilities for education of local staff and patients provided. This study is in two parts: Phase 1 which covers an epidemiological survey on diabetes prevalence and Phase two which involves a clinical study to detect diabetes complications and other degenerative diseases in diabetic and age-matched normal subjects from Phase I