Fathimath Juzan Mohamed, Person with Type 1 Diabetes | MV+ People

Fathimath Juzan Mohamed, a person living with Type 1 diabetes and a member of the Diabetes Society of Maldives, shared insights into her daily life with the condition. Diagnosed at the age of 12, she says that greater awareness and education over the years have helped her confidently respond to questions and misconceptions about diabetes.

She explains that while living with Type 1 diabetes is not very different from living without the condition, it requires constant awareness and planning. Before meals, she must count carbohydrates, and when travelling, she needs to carry extra medication and diabetes supplies.

Juzan highlights challenges such as occasional insulin shortages and limited access to advanced diabetes technologies, many of which are only available abroad. She also notes the financial burden of travelling overseas two to three times a year to obtain medication and specialised medical equipment, making diabetes management more difficult for people in the Maldives.

“I would like to urge the government and the Ministry of Health to improve access to essential diabetes care. Diabetes testing strips are extremely expensive, and including them under Aasandha coverage would provide significant relief to people living with diabetes. There is also an ongoing challenge with the availability of insulin, and greater efforts are needed to ensure a consistent supply. In addition, making insulin pumps more accessible and readily available in the Maldives would greatly improve diabetes management and quality of life for many patients,” says Juzan.