YOUTH VOICES IN ACTION
Welcome to our Summer Newsletter! Over the past few months, our YOURAH network of young diabetes advocates has been incredibly active – from taking part in a Youth Policy Dialogue at the European Commission where they engaged in conversation with key European policymakers on the challenges faced by the diabetes community, to joining our Youth Leadership Lab, a week-long programme with activities designed to strengthen their advocacy skills. To open this edition, YOURAH member, Martina Mallia, shares an editorial that captures the spirit, motivation and energy that have driven the group throughout the summer.
Read on to discover our youth activities and more!
As a young advocate living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) for the past six years, I have come to see just how powerful a youth voice can be within the diabetes community. My own journey has taught me that when young people speak up, not only can we share our stories and lived experiences, but we also bring fresh perspectives and energy to drive conversations that are urgently needed.
My passion for advocacy ignited when I was given the opportunity to attend IDF Europe's Youth Leadership Lab where I met people from different countries and gained a deeper understanding of both the disparities in access to care across Europe and the recent advances that have been made in improving care. This motivated me to work towards eliminating these inequalities and channel my passion for advocacy into purposeful action.
I feel fortunate to be able to advocate for better access to diabetes care both locally and at the European level, including most recently at the European Commission during a Youth Policy Dialogue. There, I engaged with policymakers alongside fellow YOURAH members to highlight the priorities of our community. I have seen firsthand that young people have the determination to raise awareness, challenge stigma and push for better access to care.
Advocacy is ultimately about people. It’s about ensuring that no young person living with diabetes is unheard, unsupported or left behind. Whether through small initiatives, peer-support networks, participation in research or conversations with policymakers, youth voices truly matter: they bring lived experiences to the forefront and become a powerful driver of meaningful change.
Martina Mallia
T1D Advocate & YOURAH Member from Malta
YOUTH PLATFORM
YOURAH Members meet EU Commissioners, Micallef and Várhelyi, and MEP Agius at the EU Commission
In July, nine members of our YOURAH network had the unique opportunity to join a Youth Policy Dialogue – a roundtable with key EU policymakers where they outlined the key priorities of the T1D community: improving access to psychological support, reducing persistent inequalities in diabetes care across Europe and increasing the involvement of people with lived experience in decision-making.
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Another successful edition of the IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab! Since 2011, the Youth Leadership Lab (YLL) has been one of IDF Europe’s flagship initiatives. Each year, it brings together 20 participants and a group of mentors (YLL alumni) from across Europe for a series of online sessions and a one-week in-person camp. Camps focus on strengthening leadership and advocacy skills, while fostering a strong network of diabetes advocates at the European level. This year’s camp was held in Italy and kindly hosted by AGD Parma, ANIAD and Diabete Italia, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for their unique hospitality. 
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The Youth Leadership Lab through the lens of a mentor – by Alyssa Faulkner After first joining the Youth Leadership Lab as a participant in 2017, Alyssa Faulkner returned this year as a mentor. In a new blog post on her platform ‘Pumptastic Scot’, she reflects on the camp and the role of mentors which was introduced a few years ago to let former participants draw on their own experiences and challenges to support others. As she writes, “mentoring isn’t about having all the answers […] it’s about guiding people to find their own ideas and helping these ideas come to fruition.” 
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International Youth Day 2025: local youth action for the SDGs and beyond
This International Youth Day (August 12), we highlighted the role of young people in making the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a reality in their local communities. We showcased the local initiatives of young diabetes advocates who took part in the YLL 2025, illustrating their energy, commitment and vision through peer-support projects awareness raising of diabetes in schools and improving access to self-management technologies.
Keep an eye out for the YOURAH Forum 2025!
Each year, IDF Europe organises alumni get-together events for its YOURAH members – the YOURAH Forum. These events provide a platform for past YLL participants to reconnect, exchange experiences and engage in shared advocacy efforts.
Information on the YOURAH Forum 2025 will be shared soon. Stay tuned!
MEMBER NEWS
Empowering peer educators:
FEDE’s Diabetes Education Agent programme
The Diabetes Education Agent programme, run by the Spanish Diabetes Federation (FEDE), empowers people living with diabetes (PwD) to take an active role in their own care and to serve as peer educators within their communities. This year, 603 people completed the programme, and preliminary evaluations suggest positive effects on both self-management and programme acceptability. Notably, two-thirds of graduates reported a reduction in severe diabetes-related episodes.
DiaEuro 2025:
Hungary wins the European Futsal Championship for PwD
From July 5-11, the Bulgarian Diabetes Association hosted the European Futsal Championship for People with Diabetes (DiaEuro). This year’s tournament brought together nine national teams – Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, the UK, and Uzbekistan – with Hungary taking the championship title after defeating Croatia on penalties.
Cycling4Diabetes and Climbing for Life: raising awareness of diabetes
From August 16-21, Diabetes Liga President, Luk Buyse, together with seven members of the Diabetes Liga Sports & Exercise Team, cycled all the way to L’Alpe d’Huez, where, on August 23, they took part in the Climbing for Life event. In total, the team covered 950 kilometers and climbed over 9,000 meters of elevation, demonstrating that diabetes should not be a barrier to sport. Through this effort, they also raised more than €6,000 in support of the Diabetes Liga DiaBabysit initiative which trains babysitters to care for children living with diabetes.
Welcome to our new provisional members!
IDF Europe is pleased to announce that the Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Türkiye, the Swedish Association for Diabetes Nurses and the Dutch Diabetes Association have been accepted as IDF’s new provisional members.
We look forward to collaborating with them within our European network of national diabetes associations!
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Don’t miss our symposium on integrated care at EASD 2025!
On September 18, during the 61st EASD Annual Meeting in Vienna, we will host a symposium, “Integration of Care – The Way Forward.” The event will showcase country examples of integrated care in practice, feature expert discussions on barriers and enablers, and include perspectives from people living with Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) on the value of integrated care. Together, they will highlight the urgent need to advance integrated care across Europe.
Welcome to the team!
We are delighted to welcome Elena Keller as our Social Media & Communications Intern. With a background in public health, Elena is passionate about advocating for health equity and supporting initiatives that improve access to care for marginalised populations.
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
IDF Europe’s perspective on the health priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU
On July 1, Denmark assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU, setting priorities around building a secure, competitive and green Europe. Within the health and wellbeing portfolio, the focus is on strengthening access to medicines and enhancing health security and resilience through key legislative files and initiatives.
For our community, it will be essential to ensure that upcoming legislation is inclusive and patient-centred.
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.
6. THOMAS WILLIS – SWEET AS HONEY
Thomas Willis (1621–1675) was a key figure in the early modern scientific revolution, bridging medicine, anatomy and experimental research. His groundbreaking work, Cerebri anatome (1664), mapped the brain’s intricate vascular architecture, revealing the now-famous “Willis polygon,” a heptagonal network of arteries that ensures cerebral blood flow even if major vessels are blocked.
Willis anticipated techniques like cerebral angiography centuries ahead of their time and his careful study of PwD led to the discovery of glycosuria – the presence of sugar in urine – a pathognomonic sign of diabetes, then called Willis’s disease.
Beyond anatomy, his observations laid the foundations for modern physiology and the clinical understanding of blood disorders.
Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Five of Readings on Diabetes.
UNDERSTANDING DIABETES
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World Hepatitis Day: On World Hepatitis Day (July 28), we raised awareness of the link between hepatitis and diabetes. Because of its key role in regulating blood glucose levels, liver damage can increase the risk of developing diabetes and/or make diabetes management more challenging. Conversely, diabetes can cause liver inflammation and increase the risk of liver complications. PwD under the age of 60 should receive vaccination against Hepatitis B, which is transmitted through bodily fluids. In the case of Hepatitis C, which is transmitted via blood-to-blood contact, early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent liver damage. 
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Brain health and diabetes, an often-overlooked connection On July 22, we celebrated World Brain Day by highlighting the link between brain health and diabetes. PwD face a higher risk of neurological dysfunctions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease because of fluctuating blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, inflammation and vascular damage, all of which can have an impact on brain function over time. Supporting PwD through education, the right tools, early diagnosis, timely intervention and adequate care is key to preserving cognitive function and lowering the risk of complications. 
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WHAT WE ARE READING
The BMJ | Engaging with patients in humanitarian crises: learning from access to insulin in Ukraine
A recent article in The BMJ, published as part of the Lived Experience as Expertise, features Iryna Vlasenko, a diabetes advocate from our community who shared key lessons from the war in Ukraine, including the importance of prioritising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines, devices and care. Read the article
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) | IDF Position on the latest draft Political Declaration of the UN HLM on NCDs
On September 25, the UN will hold its fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs – the last before the 2030 SDG deadline. IDF recently released a statement expressing deep concern that the draft political declaration has been significantly weakened and urged Member States to strengthen commitments, especially on diabetes prevention, access to care and the meaningful engagement of PwD. Read the full statement
WHO Europe | Everyday actions for better health – WHO recommendations
Throughout the summer, WHO Europe has shared a series of everyday actions to help reduce the risk of developing NCDs, including diabetes. The recommendations cover areas such as physical activity and healthy diets for all age groups. Read the recommendations
WHO Europe | From data to impact: new insights on NCD trends in the WHO European Region
A new WHO Europe report reveals the heavy toll of NCDs: 1.8 million deaths annually in Europe, 60% of which are preventable, and a productivity loss of USD514.4 billion each year. While 10 countries have achieved the 2025 target of a 25% reduction in premature NCD mortality, Europe as a whole is not on track to meet the 2025 or 2030 global targets. Read the report
EU RESEARCH PROJECTS
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. Check out some of the project’s recent communications:
Tips for physical activity
A recent video by DigiCare4You shares tips on physical activity to help lower the risk of chronic conditions such as T2D and hypertension. Check it out to learn how to get started and find out how much physical activity is recommended.
Testing and refinement of the digital tools used for screening
A series of tests and online surveys on the digital screening tools used in DigiCare4You, show that the system was accepted by users and considered easy to learn. It received high ratings for usability – highlighting the potential of DigiCare4You’s digital tools to enhance community-based screening services for both citizens and healthcare professionals. Read more
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Join the closing event of Trials@Home! Over the past years, IDF Europe has been part of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project, Trials@Home, which explores the implementation of decentralised clinical trials (DCTs). The project is now coming to an end and recommendations will be published highlighting what is required to implement DCTs successfully. The recommendations will be presented during a conference on October 31, in Utrecht and online. The event will include engaging discussions on the project's learnings, its impact and sustainability, and the future of DCTs. 
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Bringing MOVEUP to life: first training sessions in Italy We are excited to be part of the Erasmus+ MOVEUP project, which aims to make physical activity more accessible to those living with T2D and other chronic conditions through sports designed to promote a fun, inclusive environment for participants, while enhancing physical health and well-being. Recently, our project partner, Aps Asd Margherita Sport e Vita, held its first training of coaches and hosted training sessions and games for over 60 participants with chronic health conditions in Bari, Italy. 
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UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 60th Annual Meeting
Vienna, September 15-19, 2025 | For more information, click here
IDF Europe Symposium at EASD 2025 | Advancing Integrated Diabetes Care Across Europe
Vienna, September 18, 11:00-12:30 | 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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