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From Policy to Implementation: Advancing Diabetes Action in Europe in 2026
From early detection to cure, IDF Europe is committed to transforming life with diabetes through innovation, while leaving no one behind. As Europe enters a pivotal policy moment, with major EU and WHO initiatives reshaping approaches to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), IDF Europe is actively mobilising to ensure these reforms deliver tangible improvements for people living with diabetes (PwD).
Diabetes is closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity and other NCDs, yet prevention, care and innovation remain fragmented across Europe. This disconnect undermines both health outcomes and quality of life
for PwD. IDF Europe is therefore calling for a decisive shift away from siloed approaches to prevention and care, towards integrated, person-centred health systems that reflect scientific evidence and lived experience.
Looking towards 2026, a convergence of policy opportunities – including the EU Safe Hearts Plan, the forthcoming EU Biotech Act, reforms to the Medical Devices Regulation and WHO Europe’s Programme of Work 2026–2030 – creates a strategic opportunity for IDF Europe to drive system-wide change. By advocating for alignment across these initiatives, IDF Europe is working to accelerate prevention, innovation and equitable access to high-quality care for PwD across Europe… continue reading.
Applications opening soon for the 2026 IDF Europe YLL
If you are aged 18–30 and passionate about driving positive change for the diabetes community, developing your leadership skills and joining a pan-European network of diabetes advocates, then our Youth Leadership Lab (YLL) might be the perfect opportunity for you! The YLL offers a transformative week of workshops, training sessions, community events and networking with peers from across Europe.
More details about this year’s YLL, including the programme structure and application deadline will be shared in the coming
weeks. Stay tuned!
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Become a Mentor at the 2026 IDF Europe YLL
Are you a YOURAH member who is Interested in becoming a mentor during this years YLL? Alumni are invited to take an active role as mentors, supporting participants during and after the YLL.
As a mentor, you will contribute directly to the participant’s experience, guiding and supporting participants with projects, engaging in discussion during and after the
camp while simultaneously developing your own leadership and advocacy skills.
Applications to become a mentor will open on February 14. Stay tuned!
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International Day of Education: empowering young advocates
On the occasion of the International Day of Education on January 24, IDF Europe celebrated the power of young people in co-creating education. Through YOURAH, IDF Europe’s youth programme, we work with young people living with T1D to co-create learning environments rooted in lived experience.
YOURAH empowers young advocates to build leadership skills, share knowledge with peers and policymakers and lead initiatives at local, national and European levels. By placing young people at the centre of both learning and action, we reaffirm our commitment to amplifying youth voices and supporting youth-led change in diabetes care across Europe.
Save the date: IDF Europe Regional Council & TEAM Meeting 2026
The IDF Europe Regional Council and TEAM (“Together Everyone Achieves More”) Meeting 2026 will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on March 28-29, 2026, with an optional AI training session on March 27, led by IDF Europe Board Member, Jaivir Pall.
This annual meeting offers an important opportunity to bring together IDF Europe’s member associations to review priority projects and programmes, discuss strategic and financial matters, and strengthen collaboration across the region.
We look forward to welcoming all members to Ljubljana for these key discussions and exchanges.
Uzbekistan: “Combating heart attack and stroke”
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In memoriam:
Jacky Vollet
IDF Europe pays tribute to Jacky Vollet, President of the French Diabetes Federation (Fédération Française des Diabétiques) who passed away on January 18. For more than 15 years, Jacky was deeply committed to supporting PwD. Founder of AFD 06 and President of the Federation since September 2024, he was known for his humanism, generosity and ability to bring together volunteers, associations and staff around a shared mission. Jacky also played a key
role in shaping the Horizon Diabetes 2028 strategic project, strengthening collective action and support for PwD.
Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and all those who had the privilege of working with him.
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IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
IDF Europe-BreakthroughT1D webinar: opportunities for diabetes research
On January 20, IDF Europe and Breakthrough T1D held a joint webinar to explore upcoming research and innovation opportunities under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027, with a focus on advancing diabetes care and research.
The session provided an overview of relevant funding calls and offered a platform for researchers, innovators and other stakeholders to exchange perspectives and explore potential collaborations.
If you are interested receiving more information about any of these proposals, please contact us an email at sabine.dupont@idf-europe.org.
Missed our webinar?
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European Parliament event on the growing burden of T2D and obesity
On January 29, IDF Europe, organised a high-level policy dialogue at the European Parliament (EP) hosted by MEP Romana Jerković, addressing the growing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. The event explored the clinical, social and biological links between the two conditions, with a strong focus on integrated prevention and care pathways, equitable access to treatment and the role of stigma
as a barrier to timely diagnosis and care.
Special thanks to all of our panellists, including IDF Europe T2gether T2D advocates, Linda Kølleskov and Christian Petersen, as well as advocates from the European Coalition of People with Obesity (ECPO), Diana Castillo and Natasja Wijling.
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Ensuring the quality of continuous glucose monitors in Europe
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have transformed diabetes management, but recently, some CE-marked CGMs have been found not to be fit for purpose, putting PwD at risk. Despite being increasingly relied upon for daily diabetes management decision-making, there is currently no EU-wide, device-specific guidance defining how CGM accuracy, reliability and clinical effectiveness should be assessed.
To address this gap, IDF Europe has developed a two-page document outlining the key challenges in the current regulatory system and calling for stronger EU standards to guarantee the quality and safety of CGMs. The document also provides practical information on how CGMs are assessed in the EU and how to report adverse events.
Thanks to the Polish Diabetes
Association, the document is now also available in Polish.
Leonard Thompson Day and the anniversary of the discovery of insulin
Each January, we celebrate the centenary of insulin’s discovery and Leonard Thompson Day, honoring the 14-year-old boy living with T1D who received the first successful insulin injection in 1922.
Since its introduction 103 years ago, insulin, along with many other incredible advances in diabetes care have improved life expectancy, health outcomes and quality of life of millions of PwD.
Today, ongoing research continues to drive groundbreaking advancements in diabetes prevention, treatment and management – offering hope for better lives and ultimately a cure.
IDF Europe at the Irish Parliament: access to CGM devices
On January 21, IDF Europe’s Director of Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont, joined a panel at the Irish Parliament to discuss access to CGM devices for PwD. The discussion focused on three key priorities: ensuring equitable access for all people with T1D, expanding access to everyone on insulin or with a clinical need and providing education and support for effective device use. The discussion highlighted access to technology as essential for self-management and improving quality of life.
We thank Colm Burke TD for hosting this important
discussion.
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IDF Europe symposium: “From diabetes detection to cure: turning vision into reality”
The IDF Europe Symposium at ATTD 2026, will take place on March 13, from 12:30 to13:30 in Barcelona, Spain.
The session will explore how innovation and early intervention can improve outcomes for people living with, or at risk of, diabetes, with a focus on three key areas: early-stage type 1 diabetes detection and monitoring, with considerations on the importance of language and communication; protecting heart health through effective diabetes prevention and management; and the use of CGM
technologies in the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes.
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New publication on quality standards for CGMs
A new publication in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe highlights the urgent need for clear, harmonised quality and performance standards for CGM devices. CGMs are essential tools for PwD, supporting safer, more personalised care. This paper, co-authored by IDF Europe Chair, Prof. Tadej Battelino, highlights gaps in EU regulation and calls for harmonised quality standards for CGMs to better protect PwD.
IDF Europe has long advocated for stronger oversight under the EU Medical Devices Regulation to ensure CGMs are safe, reliable and fit for purpose. This publication reinforces the need for EU-wide action to safeguard patient safety while supporting innovation.
IDF Europe Welcomes the EU Safe Hearts Plan
IDF Europe welcomes the EU Safe Hearts Plan as a key step towards a more integrated EU approach to cardiovascular health, particularly the recognition of the interconnectedness between diabetes and other NCDs. IDF Europe calls for an end to fragmented approaches to prevention and care and encourages person-centred, integrated action.
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.
11. The race for insulin: from pancreas to life-saving therapy
Chapter Eleven brings readers to a turning point in diabetes history, when decades of observation, experimentation and debate finally converged on a breakthrough that would change medicine forever. The path to insulin was neither linear nor inevitable, but shaped by determined clinicians, chance encounters and bold experiments.
The story begins in 19th-century Europe with Étienne Lancereaux, who first linked diabetes to pancreatic disease and recognised that diabetes was not a single condition, but a complex set of disorders. His distinction between
“fatty” and “lean” diabetes laid early foundations for what we now recognise as type 2 and type 1 diabetes. Soon after, Oskar Minkowski’s landmark pancreatectomy experiment provided decisive proof: remove the pancreas, and diabetes appears.
Attention then turned to the mysterious clusters of cells identified decades earlier by Paul Langerhans. Through painstaking work, scientists gradually uncovered their critical role in regulating blood sugar. Early attempts to harness pancreatic extracts followed, including dramatic but short-lived successes, interrupted by war and limited technology.
The
race culminates in Toronto in 1922, when Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip and John Macleod succeeded in purifying insulin and administering it to 14-year-old Leonard Thompson. The result was nothing short of miraculous: a dying child brought back to life. Insulin had arrived, transforming diabetes from a fatal disease into a manageable condition.
Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Eleven of Readings on Diabetes.
WHO/Europe & JA PreventNCD webinar on front-of-pack labelling
WHO/Europe and JA PreventNCD will host a webinar on February 10, 2026 from 10:00-11:30 CET, examining the role of front-of-pack labelling in supporting helathier food choices for preventing NCDs.
During the webinar, international experts will review the latest scientific evidence, policy approaches and practical experiences from different European countries.
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EMA update on insulin shortage affecting EU/EEA countries
On December 18th 2025 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced a supply shortage of Fiasp PumpCart and NovoRapid PumpCart (insulin aspart) affecting some EU/EEA countries.
Fiasp is used to treat children from one year of age and adults living with diabetes. For guidance for PwD and healthcare professionals (HCPs), and details on
affected countries, see the EMA updates.
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New international consensus on diabetes technology use in pregnancy
A new international consensus statement in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology offers 14 evidence-based recommendations on using CGM and automated insulin delivery (AID) before, during, and after pregnancy.
Co-authored by IDF Europe Chair, Prof. Tadej Battelino and Diabetes Advocate, Dawn Adams, it aims to improve outcomes for mothers and babies across all types of diabetes.
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Ending automatic professional exclusions for people living with T1D
A significant step forward has been made in France towards ending automatic exclusions of PwD from certain professions. The medical fitness assessment system, SIGYCOP, which has historically excluded PwD, will no longer be used for determining medical fitness for entry into the armed forces reserve. This change means that people living with T1D can now apply to join the reserve, with fitness now assessed on an individual, role-specific basis rather than by diagnosis alone.
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Sports & Diabetes: Digital Peer Support (DiaPs)
IDF Europe is part of the Erasmus+ project Sports & Diabetes: Diabetes Digital Peer S(up)port (DiaPs), which aims to develop 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.
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IDF Europe releases videos on ISLET Project
Over the past six years, the Horizon project ISLET has advanced research into cell therapies for T1D.
To highlight the current state and future directions of this pioneering work, we released a video series featuring key ISLET investigators and scientific leaders. The interviews explore the translational aspects of islet therapy, the
challenges of developing advanced cell therapies and the potential impact for people living with T1D.
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ASSESS-DHT Consortium Meeting
In January, IDF Europe participated in the ASSESS-DHT consortium meeting in Dresden. Partners reviewed project progress and discussed next steps to strengthen the assessment of digital health technologies across Europe. The meeting focused on evidence generation, lifecycle approaches, sustainability and the development of practical tools to support health technology assessment bodies and technology developers.
As an ASSESS-DHT consortium member, IDF Europe contributes to stakeholder engagement and ensures lived experience is meaningfully
reflected in future digital health assessment frameworks.
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DigiCare4You 2025 newsletter released
IDF Europe is proud to be part of the DigiCare4You Horizon 2020 project, which aims to improve early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension (HTN).
The 2025 newsletter highlights the project’s latest achievements, including progress across all work packages, initial results and plans to assess cost-effectiveness and the scalability of the DigiCare4You solution.
As the project moves into its final stage, consortium
partners continue to work together to implement findings and ensure they can benefit people living with T2D and HTN across Europe.
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MOVEUP – empowering people with chronic conditions through sport
IDF Europe is a project partner of the Erasmus+ MOVEUP project, which aims to make physical activity more accessible to people living with T2D and other chronic health conditions through tailored sport that promotes fun, inclusive environments and supports better health.
In December and January, MOVEUP project partners held award ceremonies and tournaments across Europe to celebrate the commitment and achievements of MOVEUP participants in walking football, walking basketball, and catchball. The celebrations also recognised friendly competition winners, presented participant diplomas and showcased key outcomes of the Erasmus+ MOVEUP project.
MOVEUP Gala Awards
(Bucharest, Romania)
APS ASD Margherita Sport e Vita (Italy)
RECOGNISED: new insights on T2D, retinal health and cognition
We are proud to have been a consortium member of the EU-funded project, RECOGNISED which recently published a cross-sectional study in Diabetologia, the official journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The study explores the link between retinal
neurodysfunction and cognitive impairment in people living with T2D, offering important insights into how diabetes can affect both eye and brain health.
This work reflects the incredible collaboration and support of all partners involved, and sets the stage for the next phase which will provide further critical evidence on diabetes complications.
The MMD Group welcomes a new member!
She serves on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and is a member of the Delegations to the OACPS–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (DACP) and the Africa–EU Parliamentary Assembly (DAFR).
We look forward to working together to advance diabetes-related policies and improve outcomes for people living with or at risk of diabetes across Europe.
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