IDF Europe newsletter – December 2025 – Ελληνική Διαβητολογική Εταιρεία

BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE
FOR DIABETES IN EUROPE

2025 marked a year of progress for the diabetes community, driven by collective advocacy and strong collaboration across many stakeholders to improve the lives of people with diabetes (PwD) and those at risk. With the election of a new IDF Europe Board and a refreshed vision and mission, we have strengthened our commitment to
transforming life with diabetes through innovation, leaving no-one behind.

Across a wide range of activities, several themes have stood out in our work — particularly those reflecting the need for more joined-up health policies, equitable access to innovation and the inclusion of lived experience in decision-making.

Raising awareness of the interconnectedness between diabetes and other chronic conditions and the resulting need for coordinated prevention and management, and strengthening advocacy on this theme have been
key priorities for IDF Europe, particularly in the context of the EU Cardiovascular health (CVH) plan.

Improving access to medicines, technologies and treatments including innovative medicines and solutions to support diabetes management has also been a key area of work this year. As digital health tools such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) play an increasingly central role in daily diabetes management and innovation in diabetes technologies accelerates, ensuring that these technologies are
safe, reliable and fit for purpose remains essential. Throughout 2025, IDF Europe contributed to discussions on the EU Medical Devices Regulation, highlighting the need for clear and consistent standards that protect PwD and support high-quality innovation.

The year also underscored the importance of engaging young people with lived experience in shaping diabetes policy. Through our Youth Leadership Lab, as well as targeted opportunities including the Youth Policy Dialogue at the European Commission, members of our YOURAH network engaged directly with European Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), to raise awareness of the links between diabetes and mental health. These exchanges reinforced
the importance of meaningfully engaging lived experiences in decision-making, addressing inequalities in access to care and strengthening healthcare systems so they better respond to real world needs.

We also remained actively engaged with WHO Europe, including by submitting statements at the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe on the importance of ensuring the well-being of all PwD across the life
course, the need to harness innovation in diabetes care and to improve the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the entire European region. In parallel, we worked on the development of the Political Declaration of the fourth high-level meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being. Working closely with our Member Associations, we advocated for the integration of ambitious NCD targets in the Declaration and for the meaningful engagement of people with lived experience in shaping policies.

These examples represent only a snapshot of our work in 2025, but together they illustrate our commitment to advocacy, innovation and empowerment.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue to advance diabetes prevention and early detection, while promoting improved access to medicines, technologies and high-quality care across Europe.

Together, we look forward to another year of progress through collaboration and advocacy – to a future where all PwD and those at risk can thrive.

YOUTH PLATFORM

Apply to host the 2026 Youth Leadership Lab

Would you like to play a role in uniting and strengthening the voices of young diabetes advocates across Europe? We are now welcoming applications from our Member Associations to host the 2026 IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab.

The Youth Leadership Camp, now Youth Leadership Lab (YLL), is an IDF Europe long-standing initiative designed
to nurture a new generation of diabetes advocates and build a strong, pan-European youth network.

Each year, around 24 advocates aged 18-30 from IDF Europe Member Associations take part in the YLL, which includes a series of online workshops followed by an in-person camp. The 2026 in-person camp will take place from July 5 to 11.

If your Member Association is interested in hosting the next edition of the YLL, please complete the application form by January 31.

Apply here

IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

IDF Europe expert day: “From detection to cure – transforming lives for people with diabetes”

On December 4, IDF Europe held an Expert Day in Brussels, bringing together PwD, healthcare professionals (HCPs), researchers, policymakers and other experts to explore how innovation is transforming diabetes prevention, early detection and care. Discussions focused on type 2 diabetes (T2D) remission, the interplay between dysglycaemia and cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases and advances in cell and gene therapies.

Thank you to all of our speakers, presenters and attendees for supporting us during this event!

Read more about the Expert Day in the event report and in the Op-Ed in The Parliament Magazine by Martina Boccardo, IDF Europe’s Strategic Communications and Content Coordinator.

Read the event report

Read the Op-Ed

IDF Europe T2D Advocate at the EACH Cardiovascular Health Summit

Kostas Tagkalos, a T2D advocate, Member of the IDF Europe T2Gether platform, represented the diabetes community at the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH) Summit in Brussels, on December 11.

During the summit, Kostas presented his perspectives as a person living with both diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). He highlighted the need for coordinated care among various specialists involved in managing diabetes, CVD and obesity; including a dedicated care coordinator to support individuals in navigating complex care pathways; and access to psychological and peer to peer support.

IDF Europe at the
“Bridging the Gap”
Meeting in Budapest

IDF Europe was pleased to be represented by IDF Europe Chair-Elect, Prof. João Raposo, and Regional Manager, Elisabeth Dupont, at the “Bridging the Gap” event in Budapest, gathering advocates and experts across diabetes, obesity, CVD, liver and kidney conditions to explore how prevention and care for people living with, or at risk of multiple long-term chronic conditions can be better integrated.

Discussions highlighted the urgent need to break down silos and develop truly connected approaches that reflect the interplay between these conditions. We
thank ECPObesity for hosting this important event.

IDF Europe mobile health unit event report

From November 12–14, IDF Europe’s Mobile Health Unit was stationed outside the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels, where 175 participants received tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and BMI, along with guidance and information on their risk for diabetes, CVD and obesity.

We were pleased to welcome several MEPs including Adam Jarubas, Romana Jerković, Peter Agius, Elena Nevado Del Campo, Laurent Castillo and Manuela Ripa, who joined us in supporting health awareness and early detection.

Read the report

World Diabetes Day 2025: women’s health event report

IDF Europe’s World Diabetes Day 2025 event report is now available. On November 13, we held an event “Towards a sex- and gender-sensitive strategy in diabetes: understanding women’s health across the life course” at the EP in Brussels, co-hosted by MEP Paulo do Nascimento Cabral and MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen.

The event highlighted the gaps in care experienced by women living with diabetes and outlined steps to effectively embed sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in diabetes care, research and policy.

Read the report

The sound of diabetes: young voices at the European Parliament

On 12 November, IDF Europe marked World Diabetes Day with “The Sound of Diabetes”, its first-ever youth-led event at the EP Entirely co-created and designed by young people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the event placed their lived experiences at the centre of discussions on mental health and well-being.

Hosted by MEP Peter Agius, the event brought together young people, health experts and policymakers for three panel discussions focused on the need for mental health and psychological support, stigma and discrimination in schools and the workplace, and the role of sport in supporting mental and physical health. The event underscored the importance of meaningfully involving young people in shaping policies and support systems that affect their lives.

Read the event report

IDF Europe Advocate Award 2025: interviews are out!

This year, as part of World Diabetes Day 2025, IDF Europe awarded its Advocate Prize to two advocates Davor Skeledžija and Marcello Grussu, who have made exceptional contributions to improving the lives, rights and care of PwD in their respective countries.

More information about their work can be found in their interviews:

Davor Skeledžija – driving structural change in diabetes care

️ Watch the interview

Marcello Grussu – empowering PwD and advancing rights through sport

️ Watch the interview

IDF Europe response
to UN Political Declaration
on NCDs

IDF Europe has published a reflection on the UN Political Declaration adopted at the fourth High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs. While the Declaration includes several welcome steps, such as new fast-track targets and a strong focus of equity and primary care, IDF Europe remains concerned that it falls short in addressing the growing burden of NCDs.

Upcoming webinar: Horizon Europe opportunities for diabetes research

IDF Europe, in collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, will host a webinar on January 20 exploring the new calls under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027. The session will present upcoming funding opportunities to accelerate innovation in diabetes care and provide a platform for researchers, innovators and stakeholders to connect and explore potential collaborations.

MEMBER NEWS

Celebrating World Diabetes Day in Georgia

The Georgian Union of Diabetes and Endocrine Associations celebrated the 33rd World Diabetes Day at the National Library of Georgia, bringing together PwD, HCPs, policymakers and industry partners. The event highlighted the country’s progress in diabetes care, from ensuring free insulin for all in need to providing sensors for children and adolescents with T1D. Young PwD also shared their experiences and spoke to leading TV channels.

With participation from the Minister of Health, Members of Parliament and pharmaceutical companies, the event underscored that by working together, Georgia can continue advancing access to care and improving quality of life for PwD.

UNDERSTANDING DIABETES

Human Rights Day:
ensuring the right
to health for PwD

Human Rights Day reminds us that health is a fundamental right. Yet, many PwD across Europe still struggle to access early diagnosis, affordable medicines and technologies. These gaps are often shaped by social determinants such as low income, insecure employment, limited education, food insecurity, social exclusion, inter-generational trauma and poor housing.

IDF Europe works with partners and policymakers to strengthen prevention and early detection, expand access to integrated care and ensure that the voices of PwD guide the
development of effective policies upholding the right to health for all.

International Migrants Day: leaving no one behind in diabetes care

On International Migrants Day, we highlight the urgent need to ensure that migrants and displaced PwD have equitable access to care. Disruption during displacement, systemic barriers in host countries and social determinants such as discrimination, language and cultural differences, legal status and poverty all limit access to early diagnosis, essential medicines and person-centred care.

IDF Europe is committed to supporting uninterrupted access to diabetes care, addressing social determinants of health and amplifying the voice of people with lived experience to shape inclusive and equitable health
policies.

Universal Health Coverage Day: closing the gaps in diabetes care

On Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, we highlight that no one should be denied the care they need because of cost, geography or other circumstances. Yet for many PwD across Europe, access to screening, early diagnosis, essential medicines and the right support remain uneven.

On UHC Day, we call for renewed commitment to turning the right to health into reality for all PwD and those at risk.

Human Solidarity Day:
united for diabetes
care

On Human Solidarity Day, we celebrate the power of collective action to ensure that all PwD have access to the care and support they need. Solidarity drives health equity — no one should be left behind.

IDF Europe works with partners, policymakers and communities to strengthen integrated, person-centred care, amplify the voices of PwD and advance policies that make high-quality care accessible to all.

READINGS ON DIABETES

Readings on Diabetes, presented to IDF Europe by Angelo Argenteri, MD, Maria Stella de Sabata, MA, and Andrea Ascoli Marchetti, MD, is a journey through the major diabetes milestones, one of the oldest and still most widespread diseases, with anecdotes, stories, historical facts and a very rich iconography.

Each month, the IDF Europe Newsletter presents a chapter from Readings on Diabetes, which can be downloaded in full here.

10. Claude Bernard and the dawn of modern diabetology

Chapter Ten takes us into 19th-century Paris, where Claude Bernard (1813–1878) emerged as one of the defining figures in modern biomedical science. Often called the father of experimental medicine, Bernard helped shift medicine from observation to rigorous biological investigation.

Raised in rural Beaujolais and originally aspiring to be a playwright, he arrived in Paris almost by accident — only to revolutionise physiology. Under François Magendie, he championed controlled experimentation and intellectual independence, attracting students, social elites and
international acclaim. Challenging the belief that animals could not produce organic substances, Bernard showed that the liver manufactures glucose and introduced the groundbreaking concept of “internal secretions.” His “washed liver” experiments revealed glycogen, while his studies on “artificial diabetes” demonstrated how nervous system injury could induce hyperglycaemia.

This chapter paints a vivid portrait of a scientific revolution — and of Bernard’s pivotal role in laying the foundations for modern diabetology. Discover the full story in Chapter Ten of Readings on Diabetes.

Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Ten of Readings on Diabetes

Readings on Diabetes

HEALTH-RELATED NEWS

IDF Europe podcast on integrated care published in MEJ journal

We are delighted that our podcast episode on integrated diabetes care is now published in the Multidisciplinary Health and Wellbeing (MEJ) journal, with the transcript translated into Hungarian. A big thank you to JACARDI for helping bring this important conversation to a wider audience. The podcast episode features Dr. Benedetta Armocida, Coordinator of JACARDI, the EU Joint Action on CARdiovascular and Diabetes, and Dr. Helena Safadi, Leader of the JACARDI Work Package 9 on Integrated Care Pathways. They both discuss what integrated care really
looks like in practice, why it is so important for people living with chronic conditions like diabetes and the main challenges to scaling up innovation across health systems. Read the article here or listen to the podcast here

WHO releases first global guideline on GLP-1 therapies

The WHO has published its first global guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity. This follows its 2025 decision to add GLP-1 medicines to the Essential Medicines List for managing T2D in high-risk groups. The guideline includes two conditional recommendations. GLP-1 receptor agonists or GIP/GLP-1 dual agonists may be considered as long-term treatment for adults living with obesity, and intensive behavioural therapy may be used alongside these medicines as part of a comprehensive clinical approach. The WHO stresses that expanding access in a fair and affordable way is essential to avoid widening existing health inequalities. Read more

IDF Europe supports EPHA’s call to protect the 2035 ICE phase-out

IDF Europe welcomes and supports the European Public Health Alliance’s (EPHA) continued efforts to safeguard the EU’s 2035 phase-out of internal combustion engines (ICE). This policy is a critical step toward reducing air pollution, a major environmental determinant of health. Exposure to pollutants from road transport is strongly linked to a range of chronic conditions, including diabetes. Long-term PM₂.₅ exposure is estimated to contribute to around one- fifth of global T2D cases, while air pollution has also been
associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes. Protecting the 2035 ICE phase-out is therefore essential for improving public health outcomes and reducing the burden of chronic disease across Europe. Read more

EU RESEARCH PROJECTS

Sports & Diabetes: Digital Peer Support (DiaPs)

IDF Europe is part of the Erasmus+ project Sports & Diabetes: Diabetes Digital Peer S(up)port (DiaPs), which is developing an app for peer support where PwD can share their experience of managing their condition during sport activities.

In preparation for the app release, DiaPs is sharing content on social media featuring practical tips, myth-busting posts and insights from athletes living with diabetes.

Follow DiaPs on Instagram

News from DigiCare4You

We are proud of being part of the DigiCare4You Horizon 2020 project which aims to improve the early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension (HTN) through the integration of social and healthcare systems, supported by digital tools.

First-year results presented at international congress

In early December, DigiCare4You Project Coordinator, Professor Yannis Manios, presented results from the first year of the DigiCare4You intervention at the 18th Hellenic Congress of Nutrition & Dietetics in Athens, Greece. The presentation highlighted both the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this EU-funded Horizon 2020 project in supporting the prevention and management of T2D and HTN. These findings contribute to the growing evidence base on digital, person-centred approaches to chronic disease care across Europe.

Developing digital tools for community-based care

As part of the EU-funded DigiCare4You project, a new interview highlights the development of digital tools designed to support the early prevention and management of T2D and HTN. In the interview, Sandro Girolami, co-founder of METEDA SRL explains how these person-centred digital solutions are adapted to local contexts in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Spain, helping to better integrate social and healthcare systems and improve access to care.

DigiCare4You fifth newsletter edition

The fifth edition of the DigiCare4You newsletter was published this month. The newsletter provides an overview of the project and the first glimpse into its preliminary results.

Subscribe here to receive the DigiCare4You newsletter

MMD NEWS

The MMD Group welcomes three new MEPs!

The MEP Interest Group on Diabetes – MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD) aims to represent the interests of PwD, their relatives and carers as well as those at risk by elevating diabetes on the public agenda and fostering key policy changes in Europe. The MMD group is delighted to welcome three new members: MEPs Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Sebastian Everding and Michalis Hadjipantela.

MEP Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral

The MMD Group is also delighted to welcome MEP Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (EPP. Portugal) as a new member. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Relations with South Africa (D-ZA), and is a member of the Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), Fisheries (PECH), the Delegation for Relations with the United States (D-US) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (DMED).

Learn more here

MEP Sebastian Everding

The MMD Group is delighted to welcome MEP Sebastian Everding (The Left, Germany) as a new member. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (D-AL) and is a member of the Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo (DSEE). He is also a substitute member of the Committees on Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI), Public Health (SANT) and Fisheries (PECH).

Learn more here

MEP Michalis Hadjipantela

The MMD Group is delighted to welcome MEP Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, Cyprus) as a new member. MEP Hadjipantela serves on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), the Committee on Public Health (SANT), the Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC) and the Delegation for Relations with Iran (D-IR). He is also a substitute member of several committees, including Budgets (BUDG), Environment (ENVI), and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).