Even in 2025, diabetics in Cyprus continue to struggle with problems that should have been solved long ago. Despite announcements and plans on paper, their daily lives remain full of obstacles, delays, and inequalities.
It is estimated that over 10% of the population in Cyprus has diabetes, while an additional 1–2% remains undiagnosed. The latest available data comes from the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) for 2023, as the Ministry of Health does not have a complete official record of the problem. According to these figures, 12.7% of the population, or 114,899 GeSY beneficiaries, suffer from some form of diabetes, and the disease is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. In 2020, 401 deaths were recorded, increasing to 493 in 2021. Experts warn that without real reforms, particularly for children, the situation will worsen.
Despite the recent adoption of the new National Diabetes Strategy, diabetics remain cautious. Long-standing gaps and omissions are not being addressed at the pace required, and announcements are not followed by action. The Strategy is recognized as a positive step, but the gap between theory and practice remains large.
The challenges faced by diabetics in Cyprus are detailed in a letter recently sent to the Parliamentary Health Committee. The letter highlights the following issues:
Lack of diabetes clinics
The absence of organized diabetes clinics in public hospitals is one of the most serious problems. Although diabetes requires holistic and specialized care, most hospitals still do not have such departments. Patients are forced to travel to other districts for basic tests or turn to private providers, incurring increased financial and psychological costs.
This lack has multiple consequences: patients experience delays in diagnosis, miss critical follow-up visits, and often develop complications that could have been prevented. When blood sugar regulation is disrupted for long periods, the risk of kidney disease, heart disease, and diabetic foot increases dramatically.
Non-recognition of the “diabetologist” specialty
Despite diabetes being one of the most common chronic diseases, the specialty of diabetologist has not yet been officially recognized in Cyprus. Pathologists who wish to specialize have no formal training program, and patients rely on the goodwill of certain doctors with experience in the field.
The absence of an official specialty results in no standardized protocol for monitoring and managing diabetics. Each patient receives different instructions, causing confusion and inequalities in care. Many complications that could have been prevented with timely and proper education reach hospitals at an advanced stage.
Shortage of endocrinologists and access difficulties
Cyprus has fewer than 30 endocrinologists, and not all are integrated into GeSY. This makes scheduling appointments for monitoring extremely difficult, especially for diabetics who require frequent check-ups. The few specialists must serve hundreds of patients, overburdening them and delaying care.
Patients often wait months for an appointment, losing valuable time for treatment adjustment. Those who can afford it turn to the private sector, paying out-of-pocket. For others, delays may result in complications, hospitalizations, or disabilities. The shortage of specialists is therefore not only an organizational but also a deeply social problem.
Major gaps in pediatric diabetes care
Pediatric diabetes is perhaps the most neglected aspect. Outside Nicosia, there are no pediatric endocrinology clinics, forcing families from Larnaca, Famagusta, or Paphos to travel for care. This leads to significant disruption, lost workdays for parents, and missed school activities for children.
Parents have long requested that the Health Organization allow pediatric endocrinologists to visit other districts regularly, but staff shortages and bureaucratic hurdles remain obstacles. Many resort to private care, bearing an unaffordable financial burden not covered by GeSY. Frequent travel for appointments often means lost school hours, added stress for families, and further challenges in managing the disease.
Shortages of school assistants
Assistants for children with diabetes are an important part of daily school life. Although progress has been made with more assistants present in schools, the role lacks legal recognition. This means there are no clear responsibilities, and some assistants hesitate to act in critical situations.
Parents live with daily anxiety that something may go wrong at school, while children need stable and safe support. This situation places psychological strain on entire families, especially when children are young and cannot recognize early signs of hypoglycemia.
Lack of information and prevention
Despite technological advances, society still lacks full awareness of what diabetes entails. Patient associations, without institutional support, conduct awareness campaigns and training that should be provided by public authorities. Many young people disregard their health until serious symptoms appear.
The lack of prevention leads to an increase in cases, particularly among young people. The absence of continuous education hinders proper self-management, resulting in more people developing complications, higher costs for the healthcare system, and lower quality of life.
Diabetes is a complex matter
“Diabetes is not a simple matter,” says Stella Skourmouni, president of the Cyprus Diabetes Association. “Patient associations are not asking for anything excessive. They want the measures outlined in the National Strategy to be put into practice.”
She emphasises that establishing specialised diabetes clinics and centers could prevent many complications and save millions of euros. She also points out that society needs to develop greater awareness of the disease, which is not just about insulin or insulin-dependent patients. “As long as patients remain without proper information, guidance, and monitoring, the problem will continue to grow,” she notes.
While she acknowledges that the participation of patient associations in the National Strategy monitoring committee is a positive step, she stresses that the real issue is consistent action. “The Strategy can be a powerful tool if it is finally implemented seriously,” she concludes.