Maldives health group warns of rising diabetes cases
Diabetes Society says more Maldivians are at risk, with over 2,000 patients in Male’ and nearby islands and more than 200 children receiving treatment for Type 1 diabetes
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — A leading health organization in the Maldives has raised alarm over what it describes as a sharp rise in diabetes cases across the island nation, including a growing number of children diagnosed with the lifelong condition.
The Diabetes Society of Maldives said its clinics in Male’ and nearby islands are now registering more than 2,000 patients, reflecting what health experts call a concerning expansion of non-communicable diseases in a country already grappling with high rates of obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and changing diets influenced by rapid urbanization.
Society Chairperson Aishath Shiruhana said the surge includes an unprecedented rise in Type 1 diabetes, with more than 200 children currently receiving treatment at the society’s clinic.
Type 1, typically diagnosed in childhood, occurs when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Patients rely on daily insulin injections to survive.
By contrast, Type 2 diabetes—linked to diet, lifestyle, and genetics—remains far more widespread globally. In this form, the body becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce enough of it, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Treatment involves medication, lifestyle changes and, in some cases, insulin therapy. Health officials say rising rates of Type 2 diabetes in the Maldives mirror global trends, especially in urbanized and middle-income countries.
Shiruhana said the society provides full diagnostic and treatment services for both forms of the disease, but warned that prevention efforts are being undermined by poor follow-through. She noted that many individuals identified as “at risk” fail to adopt recommended lifestyle changes even after screening and counselling.
“We advise what measures can be taken, but if that is not acted upon, we won’t see the desired results,” she said, noting that awareness alone has not translated into behavioral change.
The Diabetes Society recently completed a one-year lifestyle intervention program in M. Dhiggaru, involving 120 participants, which focused on diet modification, exercise, and community-based health monitoring — an approach public-health specialists say is crucial for small island nations where access to specialized care can be limited.
Although the Maldives lacks comprehensive nationwide data, a 2021 study by the Diabetes Society estimated that more than 10,000 people in the country may be living with diabetes — a significant figure for a population of just over half a million.
Health experts caution that the real number is likely higher due to undiagnosed cases and limited routine screening in outer islands.
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