45,500 People In Malta Living With Diabetes As Obesity Rate Tops EU

More than 45,500 people in Malta are currently living with diabetes, according to new figures revealed in Parliament.

The information was provided by Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ian Borg in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Nationalist MP Ian Vassallo.

In his reply, Borg confirmed that 45,551 people in Malta are living with the condition, highlighting the significant number of individuals affected by diabetes across the country.

The figures come as Malta continues to face major challenges surrounding obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.

According to Eurostat's latest figures for 2025, Malta recorded the highest adult obesity rate in the European Union, at 26.6%, compared to the EU average of 16.3%.

Obesity is one of the major risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes, which develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or cannot produce enough of it to regulate blood sugar levels.

However, not all diabetes cases are linked to obesity. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition and is not caused by excess body weight.

The latest parliamentary reply did not provide a breakdown of patients by age or diabetes type.

Diabetes can lead to serious health complications if not properly managed, including cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, nerve damage and vision loss.

Health experts continue to emphasise the importance of regular physical activity, balanced diets, maintaining a healthy weight and routine health checks to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

With tens of thousands of people already living with diabetes, the latest figures once again highlight the importance of prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment in Malta.

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