A MESSAGE FROM OUR NEW CHAIR
Each month, we open our newsletter editorials to special guests from our community who bring unique perspectives, expertise and lived experiences to important health topics. In this issue, we are honoured to feature a message from our new IDF Europe Regional Chair, Prof. Tadej Battelino.
As I begin my term as IDF Europe Regional Chair, I would like to share some reflections and a vision for the future. We have seen extraordinary discoveries and progress in diabetes treatment and management over the past 10 years which have vastly improved the lives of those with the condition. Despite this, 66 million people currently live with diabetes in Europe (10% of adults) and many more are at risk of developing it, particularly in relation to obesity. Early detection of people at risk using modern technologies and decisive intervention with disease-modifying therapies, along with greater equality in access to diabetes technologies and medications, are perhaps the most important areas where I believe we, at IDF Europe, can make a difference providing we unite our voices and engage with people living with diabetes (PwD) on all levels.
We must intensify our efforts to improve early detection of all diabetes types. It is estimated that approximately one in three people currently living with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Europe have not yet been diagnosed. Delays in detecting diabetes can result in long periods of hyperglycaemia which can contribute significantly to the risk of various diabetes-related complications. These have a marked impact on individuals and their families, as well as on health systems, accounting for 75% of diabetes costs. Screening for intermittent hyperglycaemia in people at risk with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted modern technologies coupled with early and decisive intervention with disease-modifying medications and technology-assisted behavioural modification can prevent progression to T2D and induce long-lasting remission. T2D in its early stages must become a preventable and curable condition. We need population-based screening programmes for early detection of stages 1 and 2 of Type 1 diabetes (T1D) to avoid life-threatening diabetes ketoacidosis presentations at stage 3. This can also potentially induce at least partial remission with innovative medications, delaying the onset of stage 3 where possible. The use of automated insulin delivery (AID) with close-loop systems is now the standard of care for people living with stage 3 T1D and must become available to all. We must tackle current inacceptable disparities in access to optimal care. Furthermore, cell therapies ... continue reading.
Prof. Tadej Battelino
IDF Europe Regional Chair
YOUTH PLATFORM
YOURAH at the IDF World Diabetes Congress
On April 8-10, the YOURAH network was featured at the IDF World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok with a dedicated booth where we proudly showcased our Youth Programme.
Over the years, YOURAH has grown into a vibrant community of more than 120 young diabetes advocates committed to driving positive change in Europe and globally. Their presence at the Congress was a powerful reminder of their dedication to shaping the future of diabetes care and ensuring their voices are heard.
MEMBER NEWS
|
Prof. Konstantinos Makrilakis appointed as the new President of the Hellenic Diabetes Association In March 2025, Prof. Konstantinos Makrilakis was elected President of the Hellenic Diabetes Association (HDA), succeeding Dr. Anastasia Mavrogiannaki. Under his leadership, the HDA aims to build on recent progress and strengthen its impact, with a focus on advancing specialist training and establishing a national curriculum for Diabetes Educators. 
|
|
Association Luxembourgeoise du Diabète to host a 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. 
|
READINGS ON DIABETES
We deal with the management of diabetes on a daily basis as people with lived experience or healthcare professionals (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.
3. UROSCOPY: THE COLOURS OF URINE
In the age before modern diagnostics, urine was one of the most powerful tools a physician had. This chapter dives into the fascinating history of uroscopy – an ancient practice where urine became a window into the inner workings of the body. Physicians read the body’s imbalances through colour, consistency and even the taste of urine, with Thomas Willis famously describing the sweet urine of PwD in 1674.
The matula, a clear glass vessel, became the central instrument of this ritual, allowing doctors to assess colour against the light. A full chromatic scale – from “white as well water” to “burnt animal horn” – emerged to classify diseases, accompanied by the use of urinary sediments to determine where in the body the illness resided.
Uroscopy’s legacy continues to endure in modern medicine. Even today, a doctor’s first glance at a critically ill patient often falls on the urine bag to quickly evaluate its colour.
Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Three of Readings on Diabetes.
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
IDF World Diabetes Congress and IDF Europe Regional Council
From April 7-10, we had the pleasure of participating in the IDF World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok. This incredible event is always a unique opportunity to connect with the global diabetes community, exchange ideas, forge new partnerships and strengthen our efforts to improve the lives of PwD.
Before the Congress officially began, we hosted our Regional Council, where we met our Member Associations (MAs) from across Europe to discuss ongoing projects and future initiatives. The meeting also marked the beginning of a new biennium and the transition to a new Regional Board. We extend our deepest gratitude to Prof. Nebojša Lalić, our outgoing Regional Chair, for his excellent leadership and dedication over the past years. We are also sincerely grateful to our outgoing Board Members, Maria Stella de Sabata, Bogdana Gratton, Konstantinos Makrilakis and Tatjana Milenković, for their invaluable contributions & dedication to our shared mission.
As we move forward, we are excited to build on their legacy with our new Regional Chair, Prof. Tadej Battelino and Chair-Elect, Prof. João Raposo, along with both returning and new Board Members: Uroš Bogdanović, Leszek Czupryniak, Charilaos Dimosthenopoulos, Elena Frattolin, Sufyan Hussain, Jaivir Pall, Juha Tall, Florian Toti and Maya Victorova.
|
New publication: an overview of access to diabetes care in Europe During the IDF World Diabetes Congress, we met with our MAs for the official launch of our new publication: "An overview of access to diabetes care in Europe." This report, which was developed based on the information shared by national diabetes associations in Europe, offers insights into the current state of access to diabetes prevention, management and care across the region exploring key areas:
Read more about the publication in the op-ed published on Euractiv here. 
|
|
New publication: CGMs in obesity, intermediate hyperglycaemia or T2D A new article in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, supported and facilitated by IDF Europe, highlights the potential of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people at risk of developing T2D, including those living with obesity or intermediate hyperglycaemia, and for those diagnosed with T2D. CGMs can support early detection, lifestyle management and diabetes care. With T2D accounting for over 90% of Europe’s 66 million PwD, early intervention is critical to reducing complications and healthcare costs. While CGMs show promise in prevention and management, challenges like unequal access and low digital literacy remain. Addressing these gaps is key for broader and more effective use of this technology. 
|
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
IDF Europe position paper on CGM assessment under the EU Medical Devices Regulation
To review and assess the performance of the Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulations, the European Commission launched a public consultation and a call for evidence. IDF Europe recognises the vital role of the Medical Devices Regulation in ensuring the safety, quality and performance of devices on the EU market. For PwD, medical devices such as insulin delivery systems and blood glucose monitors are essential for daily management and the prevention of serious complications.
However, recent concerns about the safety and reliability of CGMs available in the EU raise questions about the rigour of the current CE-marking process and its ability to ensure the safety of both existing and future devices. IDF Europe submitted a position paper as part of the consultation and remains committed to advocating for the highest safety standards for all medical devices used by PwD.
NEWS FROM EUROPE
|
Grant opportunity for patient associations A new grant opportunity is available to support local patient organisations active in the cardiovascular, renal and metabolic health space and looking to bring awareness, improve care coordination and enhance understanding of interconnected conditions. To be eligible, applicants must be a registered non-profit organisation and in operation for at least one fiscal year. The deadline to apply is May 16. 
|
|
EU Commission webinar on the HTA Regulation On May 16, from 12:30-14:30 CET, the EU Commission will host a webinar in which Chairs and Co-chairs of the Member State Coordination Group on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and its subgroups will explain the process for joint clinical assessments and joint scientific consultations. The webinar will focus on how people with lived experience and clinical experts can be involved in these processes. 
|
EU4Health Civil Society Alliance joint letter
On April 10, in an open letter to the EU Commission and President Ursula Von Der Leyen, members and partners of the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance urged the Commission to immediately adopt the 2025 EU4Health Work Plan and approve full-year funding for civil society under existing Framework Partnership Agreements.
With a quarter of the year already behind us, the 2025 Work Plan under the EU4Health Programme has still not been adopted – posing a threat to the stability and function of civil society organisations which rely on annual grants to operate.
EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
SmartDiabetes at the IDF World Diabetes Congress
IDF Europe is part of the EIT Health project, SmartDiabetes, which aims to establish a comprehensive, value-based model for diabetes management, integrating digital therapy, data-driven tools and sustainable procurement practice to improve PwD's health and reduce systemic costs.
From April 8–10, members of the SmartDiabetes consortium participated in the IDF World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok. During the event, Prof. Fernando Seoane (Karolinska Institutet) presented a poster highlighting how SmartDiabetes is working to demonstrate that a value-driven standard of care for diabetes is not only achievable, but also sustainable for PwD, HCPs and payers alike.
|
ASSESS DHT open call for AI-based digital health technologies in radiology IDF Europe is part of the Horizon 2020 ASSESS-DHT project, which aims to boost the adoption of trustworthy and effective Digital Health Technologies (DHT) across Europe. The project has recently launched a call for an AI-based DHT in radiology to test the ASSESS-DHT assessment framework. Eligible organisations will have the opportunity to pilot the framework, interact with HTA bodies and receive funding of €86,000 for their efforts. 
|
|
DigiCare4You tips for healthy nutrition to help prevent and manage T2D and HTN IDF Europe is part of the DigiCare4You Horizon 2020 project which aims to improve the early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension (HTN) through an innovative person-centred, community-based solution supported by the use of digital tools. DigiCare4You recently released a new video explaining the role of food in preventing and managing chronic conditions such as T2D and HTN based on recommendations from WHO. 
|
MMD NEWS
MMD welcomes a new member – MEP Miriam Lexmann
MEP Miriam Lexmann (EPP, Slovakia), a committed advocate for social justice and equality, recently joined the MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD) Interest Group. She serves as a Questor of the European Parliament and is also a member of the Parliament’s Bureau and various committees, including the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
One of MEP Lexmann’s key priorities is to address social and employment inequalities, ensuring that all citizens have equal and fair access to the job market. This is particularly relevant when it comes to employment opportunities for PwD, who continue to face outdated forms of discrimination that prevent them from accessing certain types of jobs.
The MMD Group looks forward to working with MEP Lexmann to advance equity and ensure fair opportunities for all, regardless of health status.
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
International Conference on Integrated Care
Lisbon, May 14-16, 2025 | For more information, click here
Seventy-eight World Health Assembly
Geneva, May 19, 2025 | For more information, click here
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
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 60th Annual Meeting
Vienna, September 15-19, 2025 | For more information, click here
Follow us on social media!
Make sure to follow us to stay up to date with our latest news and events:
We are now also on Bluesky!
Do you want to know more about IDF Europe's news and events? Please confirm that you are still happy to hear from us!
