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A CALL FOR AMBITIOUS ACTION ON NCDs
On May 14, the United Nations released the Zero Draft of the Political Declaration ahead of the High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and well-being, scheduled for September 25, 2025.
The Political Declaration and the High-Level Meeting come at a critical juncture. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 calls for a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030. Yet progress has stalled. NCDs remain the leading cause of death, morbidity and disability worldwide. In Europe alone, 66 million people live with diabetes, a figure forecast to rise to 72 million by 2050. In 2024, diabetes accounted for more than $1 trillion in global health expenditure, a staggering 338% increase over the past 17 years. Collectively, NCDs cause over 43 million deaths each year, 18
million of which are considered premature.
In 2023, IDF Europe and WHO Europe co-signed a Declaration urging governments to accelerate action and uphold their commitments on diabetes. Now, the upcoming High-Level Meeting must serve as a turning point, one that delivers bold and concrete action.
We welcome the inclusion of the Global Diabetes Targets in the Zero Draft. However, much more is needed to improve diabetes prevention, management and care – from the creation of health-enabling environments and strategies that address the environmental, commercial and socio-economic determinants of health, to ensuring equitable access to medicines, technologies, education, regular screening for complications and psychological support. However, to be truly effective, disease-specific strategies should also be complemented by an approach that embraces the complexity and interconnectedness of NCDs.
While each chronic condition, be it diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD) or kidney disease, presents unique challenges, they are deeply interlinked. Diabetes, for example, is the root cause of other NCDs, including CVD and kidney disease. Additionally, chronic conditions are closely tied to mental health, with their burden often contributing to psychological distress. Millions of people live with, and are at risk of, developing multiple long-term conditions. Treating each in isolation fragments care and prevention strategies and weakens outcomes. A person-centred, integrated model that considers shared risk factors and places people at the heart of their own care is therefore essential.
Just as crucial is the
meaningful engagement of people with lived experience and patient associations. While the Zero Draft acknowledges the value of their unique expertise, it lacks a clear commitment to formally structure their involvement. This must change. People living with NCDs should not be sidelined from the discussions and decisions that affect their lives. Their voices should be embedded in every conversation and official platforms to ensure policies are grounded in real-world needs and priorities.
As IDF Europe, we strongly support the voice of people living with diabetes (PwD) and we work to unify and amplify that voice, empowering diabetes advocates to become strong, effective drivers of change. Across Europe and the world, there is a vibrant, engaged community ready to
contribute – it is time we truly listen.
Read the message from Nikolas Evripidou, a young diabetes advocate from our network, sharing why meaningful involvement is not optional, but essential:
As someone living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D), I wish policymakers better understood that meaningful engagement is not just a “nice-to-have” – it is essential to creating policies that truly work. When decisions are made without involving the people most affected, policies risk being out of touch, ineffective or even harmful.
Meaningful engagement means including people with lived experience from the very beginning of policy development – not just asking for feedback after decisions have been finalised. It means creating safe, inclusive and accessible spaces for open dialogue, where our voices are not only heard but genuinely valued.
PwD are not just patients – we are professionals, advocates, students, parents and community leaders. We carry deep insight into the emotional, physical and financial realities of living with a chronic condition. Through my work with my local association, I’ve seen how collective advocacy can shape real change at both national and European levels
After participating in the IDF World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok, I saw more clearly than ever how critical it is for PwD to be actively included in global health discussions. When we are involved, we help build policies that are more compassionate, more effective and better trusted by the communities they aim to serve.
We must move beyond being passive recipients of policy and become active co-creators in its development. Meaningful inclusion not only improves health outcomes but also fosters trust, promotes equity and strengthens accountability within health systems.”
Nikolas Evripidou
Diabetes Advocate & Medical Student
YOURAH mentors’ weekend
in Brussels
On May 24–25, five mentors for this year’s IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab (YLL) gathered in Brussels for a weekend of workshops and team-building activities ahead of the camp, which will take place in July in Italy.
The sessions helped participants form strong connections and focused on core mentoring skills including: the role of a mentor (explored through peer learning between senior and junior mentors), leadership, communication, workshop facilitation and practical tools such as icebreakers and project
coordination strategies.
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Next generation: public health of today and tomorrow
The final day of this year’s European Public Health Week celebrated young people as key drivers of change in public health.
At IDF Europe, we firmly believe in the power of young people living with diabetes to be leaders in their communities, raising awareness and pushing for better prevention and care.
To highlight this, we invited members of our YOURAH network to share their advocacy journeys and reflect on the
experiences that inspired them to take action.
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Association Luxembourgeoise du Diabète to host a Diabetes and Labour Law Conference
On June 13, the Association Luxembourgeoise du Diabète will host a conference on diabetes and labour law. The event will bring together PwD, healthcare professionals, employers and policy makers to raise awareness of the challenges faced by PwD in the workplace.
For further information and registration, please contact the Association Luxembourgeoise du Diabète at info@ald.lu.
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
T2GETHER Summit
in Brussels
On May 10-11, we hosted the second T2GETHER Summit in Brussels – IDF Europe’s annual event aiming to grow and strengthen our Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) Advocacy Platform.
People living with T2D from 14 countries came together to connect, share experiences and advance T2D advocacy across Europe. CVD advocates living with T2D also joined the event, highlighting the importance of looking beyond individual conditions. Participants took part in interactive sessions on advocacy, storytelling and the links between T2D and other NCDs, exploring stigma, the use of language and access to diabetes care across Europe.
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IDF Europe position paper on CGM assessment
As part of the European Commission public consultation to review the performance of the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulations, we submitted a position paper on the Assessment of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems.
These regulations are crucial to ensure the safety, quality and performance of devices, including those used by PwD such as insulin delivery systems and blood glucose monitors.
However, concerns around the safety and reliability of CGMs raise important questions about the CE-marking process and its ability to protect users.
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IDF Europe at the
WHA side event on
“Better liver health”
On May 22, IDF Europe Regional Manager, Elisabeth Dupont, joined the World Health Assembly side event organised by the Global Liver Institute (GLI) and the European and American Associations for the Study of Liver Diseases (EASL and AASLD): “Together for Better Liver Health: Strengthening Public Health Responses to Metabolic Disease”.
During the second panel discussion on the importance of addressing interconnected health challenges together, she described key milestones in diabetes advocacy such as the European Parliament Resolution on Diabetes in 2022 and the IDF Europe-WHO Europe Declaration in 2023 along with lessons learnt and strategies for accelerating action on diabetes and other NCDs.
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IDF Europe at the 25th International Conference
on Integrated Care
On May 14, IDF Europe Director, Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont, joined the symposium organised by Roche at the International Conference of Integrated Care on “Strengthening Diagnostics Capacity and Integrated Solutions for Managing Diabetes and its Comorbidities”.
The panel discussion explored the current landscape and principles of integrated care models and the role of the various constituents in driving their adoption.
Sabine notably
highlighted the need to scale up integrated, person-centred care across Europe to better manage diabetes and its complications. While many promising pilot initiatives exist, their broader adoption remains a challenge.
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IDF Europe at the #BEACTIVE DAY 2025 campaign launch
On May 27, IDF Europe Communication & Engagement Manager, Marian Brennan, joined the #BEACTIVE DAY 2025 campaign launch. The launch, hosted by EuropeActive, brought together national member associations and project partners to kick off the fifth #BECACTIVE campaign.
This year’s campaign highlights the importance of inclusive health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) in the prevention and management of NCDs. Marian presented IDF Europe’s contribution to this year’s HEPA Guide – the role of
physical activity in the prevention and management of diabetes. Her presentation detailed key considerations to effectively support PwD to achieve their physical activity goals and key elements of physical activity programme design for programmes targeting PwD.
Further details of the HEPA Guide 2025 to follow in coming weeks.
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IDF Europe at the Wellbeing Economy Forum
On May 8–9, IDF Europe Project Coordinator, Cameron Keighron , took part in the 2025 Wellbeing Economy Forum in Reykjavík, representing the Youth Advisory Group of the Joint Action to Prevent NCDs. The forum convened global leaders, policymakers, academics, and youth advocates to explore economic systems that prioritise both human and planetary wellbeing.
During the event, Cameron contributed to a panel discussion on how a wellbeing economy can promote public health and why the voices of those with lived
experience must be central in shaping policy. Reflecting on the experience, Cameron said: “It was both exciting and humbling to share the stage with leaders and experts from around the world and to see how open they were to listening – helping attendees understand that when we have intergenerational conversations, we can help drive real, meaningful change.”
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Save the date: webinar on opportunities for T1D research
On June 19 at 13:00 CET, IDF Europe and Breakthrough T1D will host a webinar on “Unlocking Horizon Europe: navigating opportunities for T1D research.” The webinar will discuss research opportunities for T1D through the following HORIZON-HLTH-2025 calls:
– 01-DISEASE-07: Tackling high-burden for patients and underresearched medical conditions
– 01-TOOL-02: Advancing cell secretome-based therapies
– 01-TOOL-05: Boosting the translation of biotech research into innovative health therapies
– 01-IND-01: Optimising the manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)
– 03-IND-03-two-stage: Facilitating the conduct of multinational clinical studies of orphan devices and/or of highly innovative (“breakthrough”) devices
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
European Public Health Week:
Innovation for resilience – shaping a sustainable future
Each year, we join the European Public Health Week (EUPHW), organised by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), which aims to raise awareness of key areas of action that are crucial to improve public health such as mental health, healthy ageing, climate change, youth empowerment, etc.
Global health: food systems, health security, climate and sustainability
On day two of EUPHW, themed “Global Health: Food Systems, Health Security, Climate and Sustainability,” we highlighted how air pollution, global warming, unsustainable agriculture, food deserts and the consumption of highly processed foods increase the risk of chronic conditions and worsen outcomes for those already living with them.
We called for healthier environments and sustainable food systems that place health and well-being at the centre of our society.
Health equity and
social determinants
of health
On day four of EUPHW, themed “Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health,” we highlighted how factors such as living and working conditions, income, education and experiences of discrimination significantly influence health, particularly for those living with or at risk of chronic conditions like diabetes.
We called for a “health-in-all-policies” approach placing health and equity at the heart of decision-making to tackle the inequalities shaped by these factors.
On World Hypertension Day, May 17, we raised awareness of the damage that consistent high blood pressure can cause to various organs.
PwD are more likely to have hypertension, and the reverse is also true – those with hypertension are more likely to develop diabetes than the general population. Screening for complications, early detection, timely action and effective disease management are essential for anyone living with diabetes or other chronic condition to prevent, delay or even stop the progression of complications that can affect quality of life.
We need a holistic approach to NCDs – one that recognises their
interconnectedness and ensures integrated care to address their shared risk factors.
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European Mental Health Week
During the European Mental Health Week (May 19-23), we called for better access to psychological support in Europe.
Barriers to equal access to psychological support are particularly challenging for PwD who often face unique mental health needs. The relentless nature of diabetes, which requires round-the-clock self-management every day of the year, can take a toll on mental health. PwD are two to three times more likely to experience depression than those without diabetes.
Our recent publication, “An overview of access to diabetes care in Europe”, shows that psychological support for PwD is often unavailable or difficult to access due to high out-of-pocket costs and a shortage of specialised professionals.
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European Week Against Cancer
During the European Week Against Cancer (May 25-31), we highlighted the importance of putting people at the heart of their care, empowering them to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Earlier this year, on the occasion of World Cancer Day, we spoke with NCD Advocate Cajsa Lindberg, who shared her personal experience of living with multiple long-term conditions.
In the interview, she discussed why access to integrated, person-centred care is crucial for supporting people living with cancer, diabetes and other NCDs in leading long and fulfilling lives.
We navigate the management of diabetes on a daily basis as people with lived experience or HCPs; we deal with politics, policies, research and many other aspects of diabetes, but rarely do we find the time to frame diabetes in a historical context.
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.
You may be familiar with some, less with others. We invite you to discover more about diabetes than
your daily experience of it and trust you will be enriched and inspired by these stories.
The IDF Europe Newsletter will present each month a chapter from Readings on Diabetes, which can be downloaded in full here.
4. PATRON SAINTS
The chapter on Patron Saints offers a unique lens into the connection between faith, healing and medical history. It explores how some saints have become protectors of specific organs or diseases – sometimes due to miraculous interventions, other times through symbolic associations.
You will meet figures like Saint Lucy, Saint Agatha and Saint Apollonia, whose legacies live on in both religious tradition and artistic iconography. The chapter highlights Giuseppe Moscati, a pioneering physician and saint who played a key role in
early insulin research, and José Maria Escrivá de Balaguer, whose sudden recovery from diabetes was later deemed miraculous. At the centre of the narrative are Saints Cosmas and Damian, twin brothers and early Christian doctors who became well known for their healing miracles and are still honored today as patron saints of medicine.
Through these stories, the chapter reveals how historical, religious and cultural narratives have shaped the way people relate to illness and care, offering insights into a tradition where medicine and spirituality have long been intertwined.
Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Four of Readings on Diabetes.
New WHO report on social determinants of health
On May 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a global report on social determinants of health equity.
People’s health is not just about medicine or genetics. It is also shaped by where they live, their income, their access to education and more. These factors contribute to avoidable and unjust health inequities
The report outlines key strategies to reduce their impact, including addressing economic inequality and investing in social infrastructure and universal public services; overcoming structural discrimination; managing the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change and the digital transformation; and putting
in place governance arrangements to maximise the coherence and impact of action.
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78th World Health Assembly
in Geneva
The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) convened in Geneva from May 19–27, 2025. The theme of this year’s WHA, ‘One World for Health’ underscored the need for sustained commitment to equity and improving the health of people around the world. Key outcomes included the adoption of the first WHO Pandemic Agreement, discussions on NCDs and global health financing and a renewed push for digital innovation in care.
IDF and IDF Europe actively contributed to side-events, including to discussion on the digital health transformation and the need for collaboration across disease areas to advance effective action on NCDs.
The WHA highlighted both the urgency and opportunity to build more equitable, resilient health systems.
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New OECD working paper on medical devices assessment
On April 28, the OECD released a new working paper on identifying good practices in the assessment of digital medical devices.
As healthcare systems adopt new technologies, governments face increasing pressure to decide what to fund and at what cost. The paper highlights how six countries (France, Germany, Israel, Korea, Spain and the UK) are adapting health technology assessment (HTA) frameworks to better evaluate digital tools.
The document points to the lack of a common taxonomy and rapid tech advancement as key challenges and calls for more harmonised approaches. The study draws on real-world experiences to identify pathways for more effective
HTA processes.
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OECD High-level Policy Event on the burden of CVD in the EU
On May 5, IDF Europe Director, Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont attended the OECD ‘Policy Dialogue on the Burden of CVD in the EU’, held in Paris.
The event brought together government representatives from OECD countries, civil society organisations and health experts to inform the upcoming OECD report on how countries are tackling the CVD burden and identifying opportunities to strengthen health outcomes. Given the interconnectedness between CVD and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, the involvement of organisations and individuals representing people with lived experience across the NCD spectrum ensures that influential reports like this truly reflect their needs.
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Clinical Trials Day:
Trials@Home
Each year, Clinical Trials Day (May 20), is a moment to celebrate the importance of clinical trials in advancing medical knowledge and improving people’s health.
IDF Europe is proud of being a member of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project Trials@Home, which explores the implementation of decentralised clinical trials (DCTs), where data is collected by participants in their own homes to improve accessibility, representativeness, effectiveness and efficiency.
Within this project, IDF Europe has established a Patient Expert Panel (PEP) to facilitate the engagement of PwD and ensure that their experiences, needs and preferences are heard.
Trials@Home at the OCTEU Conference in Barcelona
On April 29-30, IDF Europe Project Coordinator, Cameron Keighron, attended the Outsourcing in Clinical Trials Europe (OCTEU) Conference in Barcelona, to present Trials@Home and how the project embedded the meaningful engagement of people with lived experience form its inception.
He explained how the participation of the PEP across all work packages contributed not only to making clinical trials inclusive, but also sustainable and viable in the long term.
IDF Europe strives to ensure that lived experience is not just perceived as valuable but understood to be essential across all aspects of research, advocacy and education initiatives.
MOVEUP
Consortium Meeting
in Bucharest
IDF Europe is part of the Erasmus+ MOVEUP project, which aims to enhance the well-being and physical condition of adults living with chronic conditions, specifically T2D and CVD through adapted sports programmes.
On May 5-7, consortium partners met in Bucharest for the second project meeting, where they shared progress, trained the first group of ‘master trainers’ and experienced the adapted sports first-hand. From walking football to catchball, these inclusive, team-based activities are designed to overcome the
barriers faced by people living with chronic conditions in practicing sports. By promoting fun, connection and individualised support, MOVEUP aims to make physical activity more accessible and enjoyable for all.
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DigiCare4You capacity building and recommendations
workshop
IDF Europe is part of the DigiCare4You Horizon 2020 project which aims to improve the early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension.
On May 13-14, DigiCare4You held its first ‘Capacity Building and Recommendations Workshop’, bringing together members of its International Stakeholder Advisory Board alongside other leading experts. During the workshop, consortium partners provided an overview of the project’s progress and key learnings.
Participants had the opportunity to share insights and explore how the programme could be adapted to other settings or countries. These discussions will feed into the development of the ‘DigiCare4You Roadmap for Scale-Up’.
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Healthy ageing vs multiple long-term conditions in a digital world
One of the themes of this year’s European Public Health Week was “Healthy Ageing vs Multimorbidities in a Digital World”. To mark the occasion, we shared news of the EIT Health project, SmartDiabetes, of which IDF Europe is a member.
The project seeks to bridge the gap between the potential of digital health tools in managing chronic conditions – particularly for vulnerable groups such as older adults – and the limited access to and adoption of these solutions.
SmartDiabetes addresses this gap by promoting the systemic uptake of digital innovations and by developing a sustainable, person-centred and value-based, reimbursement model for diabetes care.
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New ISLET blog:
daily life
with T1D
IDF Europe is part of the EU-funded research project, ISLET, which seeks to generate islet cells to replace those destroyed in people living with T1D and enable insulin production again.
As part of the project, IDF Europe fosters the engagement of PwD and supports dissemination activities, including a series of blog posts about life with T1D. These aim to raise awareness of how innovations in diabetes care can help improve the lives of those living with the condition.
Our latest blog post provides an overview of what managing T1D means day-to-day, from the perspective of those with lived experience.
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The MMD Group welcomes MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen
MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland), a long-standing diabetes champion, recently joined the MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD) Interest Group. She serves as a member and substitute member of verious committees including the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and the Committee on Public Health (SANT).
One of MEP Pietikäinen key priorities is to promote gender equality, including tackling gender-based health disparities. She is a strong advocate for better prevention, care and research that take into account the specific needs of women and girls.
The MMD Group looks forward to working with MEP Pietikäinen to drive meaningful change and ensure that no women or girl is left behind in Europe’s health response.
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
European Health Management Conference
Rennes, June 4-6, 2025 | For more information, click here
Conference on Diabetes and Labour Law
Luxembourg, June 13, 2025 | For more information, contact info@ald.lu
Webinar: “Unlocking Horizon Europe: Navigating Opportunities for T1D Research
Online, June 16, 2025, 13:00 CET | Register here
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 60th Annual Meeting
Vienna, September 15-19, 2025 | For more information, click here
UN High-Level Meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing (HLM4)
New York, September 25, 2025 | For more information, click here
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