Nationwide diabetes screening reaches 10,000 people
Monday 9th November 2026 on 21:15 in
Faroe Islands
About 10,000 people have been screened for type 2 diabetes since a nationwide programme began six months ago, KVF reports. The goal is to screen 18,000 people within a year.
Preliminary results show that about 600 participants have long-term blood sugar levels in the prediabetes range. Another 95 to 100 have levels in the diabetes range.
A team from the Health Research Unit in the Hospital Service is travelling around the country to screen people in towns, villages and workplaces. On Monday morning, KVF joined the team as it screened employees at Kósin in Klaksvík.
Everyone aged 40 and over was invited through MínBoks in May. The screening aims to identify people who have type 2 diabetes without knowing it, so they can receive treatment earlier and reduce the risk of complications.
The test takes about five minutes. A drop of blood from a finger is used to measure long-term blood sugar, and participants receive their result on the spot. If the result suggests type 2 diabetes, a new blood test is needed to confirm the condition.
Screening will continue for a few more months, and people can still book an appointment. The research project posts information on Facebook about where and when screenings will take place.
The project is run by the Steno Centre and the Hospital Service’s Health Research Unit, in close cooperation with the University of the Faroe Islands and the Diabetes Association. It is supported by the Sickness Fund Foundation, Steno research, the Diabetes Association, and Sólrun and Poul Michelsen’s family. Abbott provides testing equipment but has no influence over the screening.