Fiji's ministry of health says while diabetes is a big problem in the country, it doesn't believe it's on the rise.
This comes after the Fiji College of General Practitioners said that diabetes is on the rise with one in five affected, while more and more indigenous Fijians suffer from it.
This is contrary to the latest national survey from 2002 showing that about 16 percent are affected.
The ministry of health family unit's, Dr Josaia Samuela, says it believes the 2002 survey is still valid.
"Non communicable disease survey in 2002 gives a prevalence of sixteen percent, but I think they have come up with 20 percent. On the other hand, over the past years, we are seeing an increase in indigenous Fijians, not only with diabetes, but with complications of diabetes."
Dr Josaia Samuela says it's raising community awareness through a number of measures, including health and school campaigns.
