Diabetes and Youth
Worldwide, the rising number of diabetes cases imposes a heavy health and economic burden on people living with the condition, their families, health systems and our societies. Increasingly, diabetes is also affecting more and more children, adolescents and young adults [1]. Among the paediatric population, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) continues to be most common, especially in the Europe Region, which has the highest number of children and adolescents living with the condition (295,000) as well as the highest incidence annually (31,000) [1]. Although Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) remains far less common than T1D in childhood, an increasing trend in its prevalence has also been recorded among the paediatric population over the past 30 years, with the highest rates reported in the United States [2].
Diabetes in youth requires special attention as young people living with diabetes (PwD) often face specific challenges related to living with a chronic condition during a critical developmental phase of their lives characterised by biological, psychosocial and cognitive changes [3]. For young people living with T2D, this is particularly worrisome as the development of the disease tends to be quicker and more severe compared to youths with T1D or adults with T2D, leading to a higher and accelerated risk of developing diabetes-related complications [2;4]. Additionally, chronic conditions such as diabetes can often exacerbate stress in children and adolescents during an already challenging developmental stage and high levels of stress can, in turn, generate barriers to optimal diabetes management and self-care.
Given the inherent challenges faced by young PwD, multidisciplinary diabetes teams comprised of specialists with expertise in both diabetes and paediatrics are crucial to support all aspects of diabetes management.
The key role of technology to support young PwD and their families in managing the condition and easing the burden of the numerous daily decisions they need to take should also not be underestimated as this has the potential of greatly improving their health outcomes and quality of life.
If the future lies indeed in the youth of today, we need to protect future generations! Given the recent nature of the trend in the rising number of children, adolescents and young adults developing diabetes, it is of the utmost importance that more research be done to better understand this complex and evolving condition. At the same time, we should ensure that, based on the current evidence on diabetes management and care in youth, all young PwD and their families have access to the support they need for achieving the best possible health outcomes and quality of life.
IDF EUROPE YOUTH PLATFORM
Apply to be part of the Youth Leadership Lab 2023!
Are you between 18 and 30 years old and would like to become part of a dynamic community of young diabetes advocates? Join the IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab 2023!
This year, the Youth Leadership Lab 2023 will consist of an opening session and one online leadership introductory module in June followed by an on-site Youth Leadership Camp in Bulgaria, from 9 to 15 July 2023. We thank the Bulgarian Diabetes Association for hosting it!
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with people living with diabetes from all over Europe and to collaborate with them to create projects that will have a positive impact on local, national and European diabetes communities.
MEMBER NEWS
The Cyprus Diabetes Association joined the OPAP Limassol Marathon
On March 19, Neophytos Neophytidis, Cyprus Zantis and Giorgos Panagiotou, members of the Cyprus Diabetes Association, participated in the OPAP Limassol Marathon, in Cyprus.
The marathon is part of an annual European race series which was first run in 2006. The aim of the event is to raise funds for several national and international charities that support people living with disabilities including chronic and rare conditions.
Great achievements for the Albanian Diabetes Association on PwD vaccinations and improved access to test strips
In March 2023, the Albanian Diabetes Association, in collaboration with the World Health Organization Europe (WHO Europe), completed the six-month awareness campaign “I got vaccinated. And you?”, which aimed at raising awareness of the importance of vaccinations for COVID-19 and the seasonal flu for PwD. The campaign reached more than 3,500 PwD and their families and contributed to the vaccination of more than 500 PwD.
During the month of March, the Albanian government also announced the extension of the reimbursement of test strips to PwD over 65 years of age which was, until now, only available for PwD under the age of 25. The provision is estimated to benefit more than 50,000 PwD and is the result of the strong advocacy work of the Albanian Diabetes Association which will continue with the aim of extending the reimbursement to all PwD in the country.
Read more here
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Joint health checks for CVD and diabetes – Exhibition at the European Parliament
From February 28 to March 2, the International Diabetes Federation Europe (IDFE), the European Diabetes Forum (EUDF), the European Heart Network (EHN) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), organised a joint event for diabetes and CVD at the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD group) member, MEP István Ujhelyi.
During this three-day exhibition, policymakers, experts, healthcare professionals, people living with chronic conditions and industry representatives gathered to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis to reduce premature mortality and potentially preventable, life-altering complications and explore the policy changes required to make joint diabetes and CVD health checks a reality.
Read more here
IDF Europe Centenary of Insulin campaign – the country profiles for Bulgaria is now out!
As part of our Centenary of Insulin campaign, we are releasing national factsheets presenting key facts about diabetes care, with the purpose of raising awareness and enabling policymakers to make better decisions when it comes to diabetes care.
This month, we released the Bulgaria’s country profile!
Click here or on the image to read our factsheet and learn more about diabetes care in Bulgaria.
Watch the video testimonials from Maya Victorova, President of the Bulgarian Diabetes Association (BDA), to learn more about access to diabetes technologies in the country and the work of the BDA.
We thank our members who are participating in our campaign, and we look forward to publishing more country profiles.
IDF Europe Twinning Programme
We are delighted to announce that the IDF Europe twinning programme will continue in 2023. We are currently supporting six of our member associations to establish strategic collaborations and work on common projects that can help them grow their capacity by building on their national expertise.
We are looking forward to seeing each collaboration take shape and to helping our members maximise the impact of their activities by connecting, giving and receiving support.
If your association should like to be considered for the twinning programme, please contact martina.boccardo@idf-europe.org.
Learn more about the programme on our website.
We are hiring!
IDF Europe is looking for a new Project and Administration Officer to join the team!
Learn more about the position here.
Interested candidates should send a curriculum vitae and a cover letter to idfeurope@idf-europe.org.
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, therefore sending applications as soon as possible is advisable. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
The successful applicants are expected to start as soon as possible.
Welcome to the team!
We are delighted to announce that two new staff members joined our team in March.
Sophia Demerouti is our new Junior Communication Officer. Sophia has a background in Political Science and International Relations with a specialisation in Global Risks and Analytics. With a strong skill set in the field of institutional communications, public relations, digital marketing, media and content creation, she is looking forward to using her skills to advocate for the needs of PwD.
Maxence Prizzi joined the team as Policy Intern. Maxence holds several degrees in Public Law, Political Science and International Relations from the Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 and a master’s degree in International Relations from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Over the past few years, she has also gained experience in advocacy and in the implementation of awareness campaigns in the non-profit sector.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Maru Leo Dauzon Watanabe, former Policy and Project Coordinator, Svea Krutisch, former Communication Officer and Jean Langford, former Youth Coordinator, who left our team to pursue other professional opportunities. We are all thankful for their precious contribution to the work of IDF Europe and the diabetes community, and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours!
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
International Women’s Day 2023
Every year, International Women’s Day aims to recognise women’s achievements and raise awareness of gender equality. This year, the UN campaign "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality" focused on the role of technology and innovation to advance gender equality.
Women living with diabetes face specific challenges linked to both biological and socioeconomic factors, that can adversely affect their health outcomes more than men.
World Kidney Day 2023
March 9 marked World Kidney Day 2023. This year, the theme was “Kidney Health for all – preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable”. People living with NCDs such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes are especially vulnerable to disruptions in healthcare services during emergencies.
On this international day, we highlighted the importance of preparing for unexpected events to ensure access to prevention, early diagnosis, care and treatment which are crucial for treating NCDs effectively and for preventing the development of life-altering complications.
Read more here
Bridging the care gap: Global Week for Action on NCDs announces 2023 theme
During the launch event held on March 23, the NCD Alliance announced the theme of the Global Week for Action on NCDs 2023, which will take place on September 14-21.
This year, the campaign will focus on “Bridging the care gap”, with the aim of raising awareness of the many inequalities that people living with NCDs such as diabetes still face in accessing essential health services.
IDF Europe is looking forward to participating again in the campaign and to joining forces with the NCDs community to advocate for better access to care for all people living with NCDs.
Read more about the campaign and the launch event here
NEWS FROM EUROPE
New WHO guidelines aim to protect children from unhealthy food marketing
Childhood obesity is rife in the European region (one in three children is believed to be living with overweight or obesity) a condition which often continues into adulthood. To support governments to take action, the WHO has recently released a set of updated nutritional criteria to protect children from unhealthy food and non-alcoholic beverages advertising.
The WHO/Europe Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) creates a classification of food products which helps determine whether they are healthy enough to be marketed to children. Decision-makers can now use the NPM to develop policies to improve the overall nutritional quality of diets and lower the risks of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The updated NPM reflects advances in science and changes in policy since 2015 and has been tested in 13 WHO Member States. The NCD Office has also recently produced a tool to assess baby foods for children up to three years of age.
Read more here
European Commission Revision of the Directive on Driving Licences
On March 21, the EU Parliament TRAN committee discussed the Road Safety proposal of the European Commission, which includes the revision of the current Directive on driving licences adopted in 2006.
With regard to PwD, the proposal aims to take into account the latest technological and medical developments allowing for an improved management of diabetes, by extending the duration of the validity of PwD’s driving licences, from 5 to 10 years.
As stated by MEP Dominique Riquet during the TRAN committee meeting, this change represents a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done.
Read more here
DiaEuro and IOB Cup 2023
On June 9-11, on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, the Polish Foundation for Children with Diabetes will host the European Futsal Championship for Diabetes (DiaEuro) and the Insulin On Board Cup (IOB Cup) 2023. Every year, both sporting events see the participation of national futsal and football teams from all over Europe and nearly 500 players living with diabetes across four age categories.
Since their first edition, the DiaEuro and the IOB Cup have always represented great opportunities for the international diabetes community to come together, have fun and promote the importance of physical activity for PwD.
Read more about the event here
EPF Survey: Assessing AI Awareness and Perceptions among Patient Organisations
The European Patient Forum (EPF) is conducting a survey of patient organisations’ awareness and perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare to ensure that the patients’ views, needs and values are adequately represented in future discussions and EU-level debates.
All patient organisation and individuals carrying out patient advocacy activities can complete the survey here.
EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
Sports & Diabetes project handbook: “Tackling Diabetes with Sport – Guide to Type 1 Diabetes and Sport”
The Sports & Diabetes Erasmus+ project aimed to promote participation in sport of youths living with T1D by educating sports coaches and teachers as well as addressing the key barriers to participation among children, adolescents and their parents.
The project’s key outputs, a comprehensive handbook for older youths, their parents, teachers and coaches, and a comic book for younger children about the basics of doing sport when living with diabetes, are now available to download in English, Croatian, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese and Serbian, with translations in additional languages to be released soon.
MMD ACTIVITIES
MEP Aldo Patriciello joins the MMD group
We are delighted to welcome MEP Aldo Patriciello (EPP, Italy) to the MEP Interest Group on Diabetes - MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD).
Mr Patriciello is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and a substitute member in the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Subcommittee on Public Health and a Special Committee on the COVID-19 pandemic. We are looking forward to collaborating with MEP Patriciello to improve citizens’ quality of life and strengthen the resilience of European healthcare systems.
Read more here
MMD members to serve on the new subcommittee on public health (SANT)
During the March plenary, MEPs elected the 30 members to serve on the new public health subcommittee (SANT), established under the umbrella of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
The subcommittee will deal with public health topics and specific actions relating to pharmaceuticals, the European Medicines Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
We would like to congratulate the MMD members who will be serving on the committee as members and substitutes: MEP Cristian Silviu Bușoi, MEP Sara Cerdas, MEP Antoni Comín I Oliveres, MEP Kateřina Konečná, MEP Marisa Matias, MEP Alessandra Moretti, MEP Aldo Patriciello, MEP Frédérique Ries, MEP Tomislav Sokol and MEP István Ujhelyi.
We look forward to working together with the SANT committee and our MMD champions to elevate diabetes on the EU policy agenda.
Read more here
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
WHO – 76th World Health Assembly
Geneva, May 21-30, 2023 | For more information, find the provisional agenda here
European Futsal Championship for people living with diabetes (DiaEuro) and Insulin On Board Cup (IOB Cup) 2023
Poland, June 9-11, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
16th International Primary Care Diabetes Europe Conference (PCDE) – New challenges for Primary Care in Diabetes Management
Barcelona, June 15-17, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
European Scientific Working group on Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses (ESWI) – Respiratory Virus Summit: The Burden of RSV Disease and New Intervention Strategies
Brussels and online, June 21, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
Ninth edition of the European Scientific Working Group on Influenza (ESWI) Influenza Conference
Valencia, September 17-20, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 59th Annual Meeting
Hamburg, October 2-6, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC73)
Astana, Kazakhstan, October 24-26, 2023| For more information, visit the website here
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2023 Virtual Congress - Diabetes Complications and Diabetes in Crisis
Online, December 4-7, 2023 | For more information, visit the website here
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