UNFORTUNATELY, diabetes needs no introduction. Due to its ever-growing prevalence, this chronic metabolic condition has become a global health problem. Locally, one in 10 Maltese adults are living with diabetes, of whom around 50% remain undiagnosed.
Diabetes mellitus occurs either when the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or when body tissues become less sensitive to insulin. The hormone insulin is crucial in maintaining blood glucose control (homeostasis). Therefore, due to insufficient levels of insulin, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is characterised by elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). Sustained hyperglycaemia is menacing since it can lead to serious complications including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.
There are two main types of diabetes mellitus; type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes usually develops during childhood and is a result of a viral infection or an autoimmune reaction which destroy the insulin producing cells, also known as beta cells, of the
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