Figures released by the Health Ministry reveal more than 1,000 diabetic patients died in 2007 compared to the previous years.

According to the statistic, 1217 diabetic patients died in 2007 compared to 841 in 2006.

The stats also reveal that in 2006 most of the patients who were above 60 years old were the ones that had diabetes however the number decreased to 89 in 2007 compared to 160 in 2006.

Health Ministry figures also reveal that diabetes cases are more prevalent in the Indo-Fijian community and in 2006 the numbers stood at 310 compared to the Fijian community who had 230 diabetes case.

However, the number of Indo-Fijians in 2007 decreased to 261 while the figures for the Fijian community decreased to 135.

The most alarming figure is that more females are diabetic patients.

In 2006 the number of females having diabetes stood at 346 compared to 218 in 2007.

In 2006 the number of males having diabetes was 198 compared to 197 in 2007.