MENTAL HEALTH AND DIABETES
Some 61 million people live with diabetes in Europe. Despite the advent of new medicines, tools and technologies which have revolutionised diabetes management and care over recent years, the condition continues to represent a heavy burden for people living with the condition and their families.
Diabetes management is hard, relentless and all-consuming. People living with Diabetes (PwD) and their relatives/carers need to take care of their diabetes seven days a week, 24 hours a day, to prevent the development of life-altering diabetes-related complications.
Despite strenuous management, many PwD do not meet their health outcome targets and many develop diabetes-related complications such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes retinopathy and chronic kidney disease. Less visible and front-of-mind, but no less damaging, are mental health-related complications.
Besides the mental stress of those potential long-term complications, the every-day routine of treating a life-long condition for a minimum of 20-30 and potentially, up to 80+ years, can become overwhelming.
Diabetes distress and burnout, depression, anxiety and eating disorders are all very common, and do not only affect people’s quality of life and relationships but can also have an impact on their ability and willingness to self-care.
This is why we call on healthcare systems not only to provide solutions to manage diabetes as a physical condition, but also to ensure that PwD and their carers/relatives receive the adequate and timely mental, emotional and psychological support they require at the time of diagnosis and throughout their life course.
Read the full editorial and learn about the perspectives of PwD and their carers/relatives on Mental Health and Diabetes
IDF EUROPE YOUTH PLATFORM
The IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab 2023 will start soon!
We are thrilled to announce that the Youth Leadership Lab (YLL) will soon kick off. With the overarching theme this year of "Health for all", the YLL aims to empower young leaders living with diabetes across all Europe.
The YLL’s opening ceremony will take place on June 7. Participants will meet the IDF Europe team, our sponsors, this year’s mentors and, of course, each other. The ceremony will set the stage for the online workshop to be held on June 17, during which YLL participants will start brainstorming their project ideas. The in-person Youth Leadership Camp will take place in Bankya, Bulgaria, from July 9 to 15.
We thank the Bulgarian Diabetes Association for hosting the camp!
MEMBER NEWS
Diabetes Leaders of Serbia – leadership camp organized by the Diabetes Association of Serbia
Last month, the Diabetes Association of Serbia held its 10th annual leadership camp – Diabetes Leaders of Serbia, which gathered 15 young participants aged 18-30 from around the country in the town of Nova Pazova for six busy days of interactive workshops and lectures.
The camp’s activities included lectures held by healthcare professionals (HCPs) and PwD, interactive workshops and a 12-km bicycle ride, with the goal of improving participants’ knowledge of diabetes, empowering them to educate their peers and raising awareness of the importance of physical activity in diabetes prevention and treatment.
IDF Europe Chair, Prof. Dr Nebojša Lalić, also joined the camp and addressed the participants with an inspiring message on the importance of unity in the diabetes community and the value of patient participation in diabetes advocacy.
Read more here
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
IDF Europe Hybrid Event - “Type 2 Diabetes: a preventable catastrophe?”
On June 6, IDF Europe will hold a hybrid event in Media Partnership with Euractiv to launch IDF Europe’s new publication “Type 2 Diabetes: a preventable catastrophe?”.
During the event, speakers representing academia, HCPs, people living with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), industry and policy makers will discuss why we urgently need to re-design our healthcare systems across Europe and remove the barriers that are preventing early and tight management of T2D and its associated risk factors.
The event is supported by Lilly Diabetes.
IDF Europe Centenary of Insulin campaign – the country profile for Slovenia 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 country profile for Slovenia!
Click here on the image to read the factsheet and learn more about diabetes care in Slovenia.
We thank our members and the young advocates 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.
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
International Nurses Day 2023: “Our Nurses. Our Future.”
On May 12, International Nurses Day reminded us of their vital role as well as of the need to advocate to develop and expand their role in the future, specifically in relation to diabetes management and prevention.
Diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs) often take on a prevention role; they are tasked with educating PwD on self-management and generally supporting them in their journey. Despite their crucial role, all too often diabetes specialist nursing is not a recognised specialty and/or DSNs’ role remains limited.
On this international day, IDF Europe highlighted the vital role that nurses play in diabetes care and called on national governments and the EU to tackle the nurses’ workforce crisis and to strengthen primary care systems by ensuring that DSNs can play a role in the prevention and management of diabetes.
Read more here
International Clinical Trials Day 2023
On May 20, on the occasion of International Clinical Trials Day, we shared information about IDF Europe’s participation in the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) project, Trials@Home.
Within Trials@Home, IDF Europe coordinates the work of a Patient Expert Panel, consisting of seven PwD, contributing their views, perspectives and insights across all stages of the project.
Citizens and patients should always be engaged in the development of clinical trials to ensure that their perspectives, needs and preferences are heard and represented at all stages in the development of new innovations.
To learn more, check out the project’s informative videos here
European Public Health Week 2023
The European Public Health Week 2023 (EUPHA) took place from May 22 to May 26. Each day of the week focused on a different theme: Mental Health for All, Diversity in Health, Access to Care, Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases, and Global Health Emergencies and Response.
IDF Europe participated in EUPHA, with a focus on raising awareness of the multidimensional nature of diabetes management. Recognising the vital connection between physical and mental well-being, IDF Europe also created a booklet, sharing the voices of our community on the emotional impact of diabetes.
Discover the inspiring testimonies of PwD, their families and carers as well as HCPs and learn more about diabetes and mental health!
NEWS FROM EUROPE
HealthTech for Patients 2023
On May 25, IDF Europe Project Coordinator, Mia Bajramagic, participated as a panellist in the roundtables on “Noncommunicable Diseases: from prevention to treatment” and “Cardiac Diseases: for a better care of patients” at the HealthTech for Patients event organised by HealthTech for Care, the endowment fund launched by France Biotech, which is designed to support and promote access to care, new medical technologies and drugs across Europe.
During the event, panellists addressed the importance of involving all key stakeholders in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and highlighted the importance of patient engagement and involvement in innovation processes for better healthcare delivery. Technology and innovation can play a critical role in supporting people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, as long as they reflect their needs and are used responsibly. When technology is involved, it is crucial to ensure that people are placed at the centre of their care and that their personal perspectives do not get lost in data.
LongITools Science4Policy Forum
On May 10, IDF Europe Regional Manager, Elisabeth Dupont and diabetes advocate, Mark Johns participated in the LongITools Science4Policy Forum focused on ‘Diabetes and the Exposome: Identifying challenges and solutions for Action’.
During the event, Mark Johns shared his experience of living with T2D and joined the discussion on the interactions between environmental, lifestyle and biological factors and risks of developing NCDs, such as diabetes.
EU Health Ministers informal meeting in Stockholm
On May 5, Maya Victorova, President of the Bulgarian Diabetes Association and IDF Europe Board Member, participated in an informal meeting of EU Health Ministers in Stockholm.
After reviewing the status of diabetes care and medicines availability in Bulgaria, Ms Victorova highlighted the urgent need to improve medicines delivery and distribution in order to ensure that the lives of people with diabetes and other conditions are not put at risk by medicines shortages.
Read more here
SANT committee update
In February 2023, the European Parliament approved the creation of a new ENVI subcommittee on public health (SANT). SANT focuses on public health issues and will work on a number of initiatives, including, for example, non-legislative reports on NCDs and mental health.
On June 1, SANT organised a hearing on preventing NCDs, to support its work in the development of the Committee's own initiative (INI) Report on NCDs planned to be delivered by the end of August, with amendments to be tabled September 7. Prof. João Raposo, APDP Medical Director and IDF Europe Board member, was invited to contribute as an expert. In his presentation, Prof. Raposo explained the importance of primordial and primary prevention, as well as the complexity of diabetes management. He further stressed the fact that "diabetes can work as a clear marker of the resilience of our healthcare systems and societies".
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
EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
DigiCare4You Annual Meeting
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 project’s overall objective is to assess the scalability and transferability of an intersectoral, innovative person-centred solution involving digital tools, aimed at empowering families and integrating community care services in Europe for the prevention and management of T2D and HTN.
On May 8-9, DigiCare4You consortium members held the project’s third annual meeting in Zaragoza and online. During the meeting, DigiCare4you partners reviewed the progress achieved in recruiting study participants and developing a locally-adapted intervention, integrated in the local health system and procedures in each country.
Read more here
PRIME – Fourth General Assembly meeting
IDF participates in the Communication and Dissemination Work Package of Prevention and Remediation of Insulin Multimorbidity in Europe (PRIME).
PRIME is a Horizon 2020 project which studies the insulin-dependent mechanisms that underly both somatic conditions (i.e., T2Ds, obesity, metabolic syndrome) and brain disorders (i.e., Alzheimer's disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders).
During PRIME’s Fourth Annual Meeting, which was held in Budapest on May 10-12, IDF Europe Director, Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont and Alzheimer Europe Project Officer, Angela Bradshaw, discussed the importance of patients’ involvement in research projects to ensure that their perspectives are represented at all stages of a project’s conception and development.
The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) Patient Pool is open for applications
The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) is a public-private partnership between the European Union and the European life science industries. IHI aims at translating health research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients and society and ensuring that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research.
IHI is now looking for patients and caregivers to contribute to its Patient Pool. This is aimed at strengthening the voice of patients and informal caregivers in a range of IHI activities.
The deadline to apply to the IHI Patient Pool is June 8.
To learn more about how to join the IHI Patient Pool, click here
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
MMD welcomes a new member – MEP Tilly Metz
We would like to welcome MEP Tilly Metz (Greens, Luxembourg) on board of the MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes interest group!
MEP Metz has been a very active supporter of the diabetes community in the last year, including during the preparation of the MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on prevention, management and better care of diabetes in the EU on the occasion of World Diabetes Day. Thanks to Ms Metz’s support as a shadow rapporteur on behalf of the Greens, the resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority in November 2022.
Ahead of the vote on the Resolution in Strasbourg, MEP Metz called to end discrimination against PwD in all areas of life such as schools and work places, improve access to quality care and innovation, and make the transition to healthy and health-enabling environments.
We look forward to working together with Ms Metz to raise awareness of diabetes and foster ambitious policy action to address the diabetes challenge and improve the quality of life and health outcomes of people living with diabetes and other chronic conditions.
Read more here
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
IDF Europe hybrid event: “Type 2 Diabetes: a preventable catastrophe?”
Brussels and online, June 6, 2023 | For more information, visit the event page here
Breakfast Debate at the European Parliament (hosted by MEP Nica Dan / organised by JDRF - IHI / supported by EUDF and its members, incl. IDF Europe) - European Collaborative Effort in Diabetes Research
Brussels, June 7, 2023 |Holders of EP badge can register to this in-person event 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
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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