Ending silo thinking for impactful action
on NCDs and sustainable health systems
September 29 was World Heart Day. To mark this occasion, we call on policymakers to acknowledge the interconnectedness between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes and the subsequent need for holistic, transversal, person-centred and personalised approaches to non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and management. Only by breaking down silo-thinking can we ensure the sustainability of our healthcare systems and the well-being of our citizens.
Diabetes and CVD – an interconnected burden
Diabetes and CVD are among the leading causes of death worldwide, placing a huge burden on individuals, healthcare systems and societies. In Europe, more than 60 million people live with diabetes, of whom 32 million in the European Union (EU). More than 60 million people also live with CVD in the EU.
The close link between diabetes and CVD is exemplified by the fact that CVD is the most prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with diabetes (PwD). About one third of PwD develop CVD, which accounts for half of its deaths. Diabetes increases the risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke and can lead to cardiomyopathy. Diabetes is often associated with hypertension, which is another risk factor for CVD. As the prevalence of diabetes is forecast to rise by 45% in the next 25 years, the associated burden and mortality from CVD are also expected to increase, highlighting the need for a shift in how we approach their prevention and management.
A transversal approach across diseases and risk factors
Improving the prevention of diabetes, CVD and other NCDs (and population health generally) requires a transversal and health-in-all-policies approach to tackle modifiable behavioural risk factors as well as external factors such as air pollution, other environmental stressors and the built environment, all of which are common risk factors across most NCDs. Cultural and social determinants also play an important role which need to be addressed as a whole. Lower levels of education, for example, place people at a 2.4 times higher risk of developing diabetes and are a key barrier to the implementation of prevention and rehabilitation programmes for people with CVD.
A personalised approach to disease management and prevention
Bending the diabetes/CVD/NCDs curve also means adopting a more personalised approach to both prevention and management. Prevention efforts should focus on identifying individuals at risk of developing NCDs early and implementing tailored strategies that address their specific circumstances and needs, thereby reducing their risk of developing NCDs.
Equally, disease management should consider the evolving needs, preferences and unique circumstances of people living with chronic conditions throughout their lives. As is the case for diabetes and CVD, many people living with NCDs often live with more than one condition. This means there is a need to shift away from disease-oriented approaches and towards integrated, person-centred and personalised care models that provide effective treatment, support self-management and help achieve optimal health outcomes. Integrated care fosters collaboration among the diverse care providers involved in the prevention, management, and treatment of diabetes, CVD and other NCDs at all levels. It requires coordination across specialties and health services, multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and well-defined care pathways.
Building on science and maximising impact – adopting a joint approach on CVD and diabetes
The interconnectedness of diabetes and CVD (and other chronic conditions) means that robust plans are required that tackle their shared risk factors and, as appropriate, facilitate joint actions for people who are at risk of, or live with, multiple conditions. On their own though, these are not enough. Action is also required that supports effective disease-specific management and prevention. In the case of diabetes, for example, this means ensuring that people with the condition have access to early screening and intervention as well as to the care, medication, technologies and self-education they need to optimise their blood glucose levels and reduce their risk of developing CVD.
The various amendments to the proposed Council Conclusions on CVD of the Hungarian Presidency currently under discussion by Member States seem to perpetuate the silo-thinking all too often present in public health.
Effective prevention and management of diabetes is a prerequisite to preventing CVD. Acknowledging this fact (or acting on this knowledge) would both build on the latest scientific evidence and represent a forward-thinking leap. People living with CVD and/or diabetes deserve it. We urge policy makers to heed this call and adopt Conclusions that will meaningfully drive policy, so that the best possible health outcomes and quality of life are achieved for all, irrespective of the disease they live with.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Interview with Alessio Fresco, T1D advocate and athlete
During the European Week of Sport (September 23-30), we interviewed Alessio Fresco, a Type 1 diabetes (T1D) advocate and athlete from Italy who recently completed an Ironman Triathlon.
His mission is to motivate and inspire PwD not to give up on sports and to encourage them to connect with their community to find the support they need to overcome challenges.
YOUTH PLATFORM
Webinar: “Using social media in the Diabetes World”
On September 19, YOURAH members attended a webinar organised by IDF Europe and Medtronic on “Social media for the Diabetes World.”
Maria Korchevskaya, Senior Social Media Coordinator at Medtronic, introduced the young advocates to various social media platforms and shared tips on maximising their impact.
Kona Taki, YOURAH member and co-host of the Global Diabetes Insights podcast, shared her experience with podcasting, highlighting the pros and cons of this format. She encouraged fellow advocates to explore podcasting and not shy away from starting their own projects.
We wish to thank Medtronic for this opportunity and we look forward to continuing this series!
MEMBER NEWS
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Less than one month The IDF Europe TEAM ("Together Everyone Achieves More") meeting and the Regional Council 2024 will take place in Rome, Italy, on October 12 and 13, respectively. Each year, the Regional Council represents a great opportunity to meet all our member associations in person, provide a review of our priority projects and programmes, discuss financial matters and strengthen our network across Europe. We look forward to meeting all our member associations in Rome! 
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The Polish Diabetes Association leads dissemination efforts in project on CVD screening The Polish Diabetes Association is a consortium member of PROVIDE, an EU-funded project which aims to transform and improve the early detection of CVD risk in people living with pre diabetes and T2D. As a key member of the PROVIDE consortium, the Polish Diabetes Association is responsible for disseminating project information and organising workshops for NGOs focused on diabetes, health promotion and education on CVD risk. 
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IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
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EASD symposium on “Personalisation of care” On September 21, IDF Europe held a symposium on “Personalisation of care” during the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 60th Annual Meeting. Featuring people living with T2D and T1D, HCPs and a policymaker, the goal of the symposium was to gather different perspectives to define the key elements of personalised care and discuss key barriers to, and enablers of, care personalisation. The event set the stage for deeper conversations on how to effectively identify and address PwD’s needs through innovative approaches and ultimately improve their health outcomes and quality of life. 
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Podcast episode on “Personalisation of care” Ahead of our symposium at EASD 2024, we published our very first podcast episode on “Personalisation of care”. The episode features Prof. João Raposo, Medical Director at the Portuguese Diabetes Association (APDP), President of the Portuguese Society of Diabetology (SPD) and IDF Europe Board Member, and Erik Werson, diabetes advocate and member of our T2D Platform. During the episode, our guests discuss the meaning of personalisation of care for PwD and HCPs, what is needed to drive its implementation and the potential of new technologies in this process. 
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Early Detection Policy Forum in Madrid
During EASD Annual Meeting, IDF Europe, in collaboration with the European Diabetes Forum (EUDF), the Spanish Diabetes Federation (Federación Española de Diabetes – FEDE), the Parliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network (PDGN) and Sanofi, organised an Early Detection Policy Forum titled “Going beyond what we can see – early detection for autoimmune T1D”. The event brought together various stakeholders from the diabetes community to discuss how to join forces and drive innovation in the field of T1D detection.
Following the event, EUDF published an article on Euractiv calling for the EU to support action by Member States to advance early T1D diagnosis as well as timely access to innovative therapies for all those at risk of, and living with, T1D.
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Join our Traineeship Throughout the year, IDF Europe welcomes open applications from students and recent graduates to join its Traineeship Programme. The Traineeship Programme includes opportunities to gain hands-on experience in health and diabetes, policy and advocacy, project coordination, thought leadership and communications. 
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European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg On September 16-19, the IDF Europe team, alongside some of our Member Associations, attended the European Parliament (EP) Plenary in Strasbourg and met with several MEPs to push for a European Health Union and for diabetes and other NCDs to become a top priority in the EU. We wish to thank all who took the time to meet and support our cause. 
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IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
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World Patient Safety Day On September 17, on World Patient Safety Day, we highlighted the critical need for improving timely and accurate diagnosis to ensure patient safety. For PwD, delayed or incorrect diagnosis can lead to preventable and life-altering complications. One of the goals of the November 2023 IDF Europe-WHO Europe Declaration, is to accelerate action to improve early diagnosis and care for PwD. The declaration is now available in 25+ languages and both individuals and organisations can sign it to help accelerate action on diabetes. 
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European Week of Sport From September 23-30, during the European Week of Sport, we celebrated the role of sport in fostering inclusion, well-being and a sense of belonging in our communities. Throughout the week, we promoted the handbook and comic book developed as part of the EU-funded Sports & Diabetes project, of which IDF Europe is a consortium member. These resources aim to support PwD, their families, carers, coaches, and school teachers by addressing key concerns about engaging in sport while managing diabetes. 
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World Heart Day: “Use heart for action” On World Heart Day, September 29, we highlighted the strong link between diabetes and CVD. With more than 32 million PwD in the EU and 60 million with CVD, a joint approach based on common risk factors for both conditions would greatly improve their prevention, early detection and management. On this important day, we shared a video conversation between two PwD and two HCPs in which they discuss the difference in CVD risks and management in T1D and T2D, access to screening and current challenges in CVD care. 
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The diaTribe campaign: “Spoonful of laughther” On October 10, the diaTribe Foundation will launch the “Spoonful of Laughter” campaign which aims to use the power of comedy to provide education on diabetes and push back against stigma and stereotypes. As part of the campaign, comedians, activists and artists partnered to create content that shows that there are a lot of reasons to laugh when it comes to diabetes, but we have to be brave and smart enough to do it without adding stigma. Follow the campaign on social media:       
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EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
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Recognised: IDF Europe is part of the Horizon 2020 Recognised project which aims to determine the usefulness of the retina to identify people living with T2D and cognitive impairments. About 75% of people currently living with dementia are undiagnosed, missing out on crucial care and support. On World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21, RECOGNISED raised awareness of the importance of timely diagnosis for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to allow for better planning and treatment. 
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Recognised: The retina is a brain-derived organ with a direct connection to the brain. The Recognised project investigates whether it could be a tool for identifying people living with T2D who are at risk of developing dementia. This is done through the investigation of the common pathways of diabetic retinopathy and cognitive impairment. On World Retina Day, September 24, RECOGNISED celebrated the uniqueness of the retina and raised awareness of the importance of regular eye exams to ensure that it remains healthy. 
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DigiCare4You: IDF Europe is part of the DigiCare4You Horizon 2020 project which aims to improve the early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension (HTN). The third edition of the DigiCare4You newsletter was published in September 2024. The newsletter provides an overview of the project, the main milestones achieved over the past months, a description of what partners are now working on and relevant resources on T2D and HTN. Subscribe here to receive the DigiCare4You newsletter. 
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DigiCare4You: The DigiCare4You project aims to create a supportive social and physical environment within schools and communities for all citizens, for and beyond the individuals and families participating in the intervention. To support this aim, part of the DigiCare4You solution is a school intervention component in which teachers in four countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Spain) will be trained to create a supportive environment that promotes the adoption of healthy behaviours. To achieve this, material adapted to each country has been developed. To achieve this, material adapted to each country has been developed. 
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New publications from ASSESS-DHT consortium partners 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. Over the summer, consortium partners from the ASSESS-DHT project published two new articles in npj Digital Health providing insights and recommendations for the evolving landscape of digital health and emphasising the importance of adapting regulatory and reimbursement frameworks. DHT Need Regulation and Reimbursement that Enable Flexible Interactions and Groupings How Can Regulation and Reimbursement Better Accommodate Flexible Suites of DHT? 
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PRIME e-learning course on body and the brain The Horizon 2020 PRIME study, in which IDF Europe participates, aims to understand the multimorbidity of insulin signaling and brain disorders and how these might overlap with somatic conditions. PRIME, in collaboration with the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), recently launched a new free e-learning course on “Body and Brain – co-occurrence of cardiometabolic and mental diseases”. IDF Europe Regional Chair, Prof. Nebojša Lalić and Board Member, Prof. Tatjana Milenkovic, are part of the course faculty. The course dives deep into the link between insulinopathies, such as T2D and obesity, and mental and neurological disorders to help HCPs improve care for those living with the conditions. 
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UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
IDF Europe Regional Council
Rome, October 12-13, 2024
International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) 50th Annual Conference
Lisbon, October 16-19, 2024 |For more information, click here
WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC74)
Copenhagen, October 29-31, 2024 | For more information, click here
Brain Innovation Days
Brussels, November 13-14, 2024 | For more information, click here
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