A new chapter for health in the EU
The 2024 European elections were characterised by intense political debate and will most probably mark a significant turning point in the political landscape of the European Union. The shift in the composition of the EP towards the right, albeit less marked than expected, carries significant implications for health policies and the prioritisation of health during the next mandate.
The EP’s new composition will influence the distribution of key positions within EU institutions, including the Presidents of the Commission, Parliament and European Council. These appointments will play a critical role in determining how health priorities are set and addressed at EU level. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increased recognition of the importance of cooperation and coordination in health policies across the EU. This led to a political push for the establishment of a "European Health Union", promoting harmonised health standards for reduced inequalities in access to healthcare. Some signs that this political ambition was perhaps starting to wane included the €1 billion cut to the EU4Health programme last January. With the EP's shift to the right, the progress towards a European Health Union might slow down further. A right-leaning EP is more likely to prioritise the protection of Member States' competence on health and potentially resist more ambitious efforts to increase coordination on health policies across EU countries.
Based on the priorities highlighted in their manifestos by political groups, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) might feature more prominently in the next EP mandate, with a specific focus on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), neurodegenerative diseases, mental health and women's health.
As the new mandate of the EP begins, IDF Europe remains committed to advocating for comprehensive health policies that systematically address all NCDs, including the needs of the 32 million European citizens living with diabetes. Acknowledging the interconnectedness of all NCDs and the role of diabetes as a marker of health systems' resilience, will be key to developing effective and concerted strategies to reduce the burden of NCDs and improve health across Europe. The voice of the diabetes community will be essential in this effort. Civil society organisations and people with lived experience must continue to advocate and be included in decisions that affect their health. Only by amplifying the collective voice of the diabetes community can we push for more ambitious plans and actions to achieve better diabetes prevention, management and care, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Join our efforts now!
Sign the IDF Europe-WHO Europe Declaration to show policymakers that more needs to be done to improve the lives of people living with diabetes (PwD) and those at risk.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Interview with T2D Platform member, Vilen Michev
Partly reflecting the stigma often attached to Type 2 diabetes (T2D), and perhaps partly because of the demographics of the T2D group, people living with T2D are under-represented and under-engaged in advocacy activities, general research projects and other initiatives. To address this, in 2022, IDF Europe launched a platform of people living with T2D interested in representing the voice of PwD in advocacy initiatives as well as through participation in other projects.
On March 16-17, we held a Summit in Brussels with the current members of the platform and other people living with T2D who are interested in joining the community. Some 35 people from all over Europe and all walks of life joined the event and showed great enthusiasm in engaging and sharing their personal experience with people living with the same condition.
We recently interviewed Vilen Michev, a T2D Platform member from Bulgaria, who shared his experience at the Summit and what motivates him to engage in advocacy.
MEMBER NEWS
Save the date: IDF Europe Regional Council 2024
We are delighted to announce that 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 organisations in person, provide a review of our priority projects and programmes, discuss financial matters and strengthen our network across Europe.
More information about the Regional Council has been sent to all our member organisations. If you have not received it, please contact anna.fileppo@idf-europe.org.
We look forward to meeting all our member organisations in Rome next October!
Webinar: “Eat Better, Live Better”
IDF Europe, the Portuguese Diabetes Association (APDP) and the French Diabetes Federation (FFD) have been collaborating on the 18-month project “Eat Better, Live Better”, supported by the international movement, “Healthy Food Healthy Planet”.
The initiative aims to explore and promote the role of plant-based diets in managing diabetes through sustainable and healthy diets.
On June 11, IDF Europe, APDP and the FFD held a webinar presenting the final results of the project. During this online event, various stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare professionals (HCPs), public health experts and PwD, shared their perspectives on plant-based diets, strategies for supporting sustainable behavioural changes, ways to mobilise stakeholders to translate science into action, and the policies needed to improve health outcomes and ensure a sustainable future for EU citizens.
The event report will be available soon.
With the #DarujemKilometre Campaign to the Moon and Back
On May 22, the Slovenian Diabetes Association and the communication company, Mediade, received the prestigious Slovenian National Professional Award "Prizma" for organising the #DarujemKilometre (#DonatingKilometers) campaign.
The campaign launched in 2019 aimed to collect a total of 384,000 kilometres, equivalent to the distance between Earth and the Moon, by encouraging people to engage in sports such as cycling while recording the distance they travelled. Having exceeded its target in 2023 by reaching a total of 512,888 kilometres, a new target has now been set at 1 million kilometres.
The campaign directly contributes to raising awareness of diabetes and the importance of physical activity in preventing and managing the condition. Not only does the initiative encourage people to lead a more active lifestyle but it also represents an innovative and effective approach to raising public awareness about the importance of health.
IDF EUROPE YOUTH PLATFORM
IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab: opening session and online workshop
In preparation for the upcoming Youth Leadership Camp 2023, IDF Europe organised two online events.
During the opening session on June 11, participants had the chance to get to know each other and to meet with leaders from IDF Europe, the hosts of this year’s camp from the Diabetes Association of Serbia, the mentors who will be guiding their journey during the camp and representatives of the YLL sponsors and partners, Lilly Diabetes and Medtronic.
During the online workshop on June 22, participants were introduced to the themes and sub-themes on which they will be working during the camp. Each group explored a crucial component of the overarching theme “Strengthening the youth diabetes communities at local and national levels”:
- Transgenerational collaboration
- Youth engagement and community building
- Future-proof youth communities
- Cross-border cooperation
It was great to see such enthusiasm before the camp which will take place soon, on July 7-13, in Serbia. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!
IDF EUROPE NEWS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Save the date – IDF Europe symposium at EASD: “Personalisation of care – the way forward”
During the 60th EASD Annual Meeting on September 9-13, IDF Europe will hold a symposium: "Personalisation of care - the way forward".
Chaired by Prof. João Raposo, Medical Director at APDP, Diabetes Portugal, and IDF Europe Board Member, the event will feature PwD’s perspectives on what personalisation of care really means to them and what is needed to drive it. A multidisciplinary panel of HCPs will discuss the importance of getting to know healthcare system users and how to make a science of it. Other stakeholders will address potential approaches to the transformation and standardisation of healthcare systems to ensure optimum care personalisation as well as the main policy barriers to, and enablers of, care personalisation.
The Symposium will take place on September 12, from 11:30-13:00 CEST, at the Retiro Hall, IFEMA Convention Center – Feria de Madrid.
Please note that you need to be registered for the EASD Annual Meeting to be able to attend our Symposium.
Air Liquide Healthcare is partner of this symposium.
More than 1,000 voices stand united for action on diabetes
In the lead up to the European Elections, we organised a campaign to raise awareness of the urgent need to act on diabetes. As part of the campaign, we encouraged individuals and organisations to support the IDF Europe-WHO Europe Declaration and share their reasons for endorsing it to show policymakers that more needs to be done to improve the lives of PwD and those at risk.
As a result of the campaign, the Declaration reached more than 1,000 signatures and over 70 people and organisations shared their views about the changes they wish to see in their countries to improve diabetes prevention, management and care.
Help us keep the momentum going and if you have not already, sign the Declaration here
We wish to thank everyone who joined the campaign and supported the Declaration.
Together, United, Let’s Act on Diabetes!
Insulin On Board 2024 football tournament
The sixth edition of the Insulin on Board Cup (IOB Cup) 2024 took place in Warsaw, Poland on June 15-16. More than 200 players living with diabetes from all over Europe participated in the tournament.
Since its first edition, the IOB Cup has represented a great opportunity for the international diabetes community to come together, have fun and promote the importance of physical activity for PwD.
IDF Europe is honoured to be a patron of the event.
IDF Europe Country Profiles: Estonia, Iceland and Ireland
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 profiles for Estonia, Iceland and Ireland.
Digital Health Uptake webinar on digital health technologies for the self-management of chronic diseases
On June 20, IDF Europe Director, Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont, moderated a panel discussion on digital health technologies for the support of self-management of chronic diseases, during the webinar organised by Digital Health Uptake (DHU).
Digital Health Uptake is an EU-funded project aiming to facilitate the alignment of policies, strategies, instruments and activities to advance the uptake of digital health solutions and services in Europe.
During the webinar, speakers discussed how to demonstrate evidence facilitating high acceptance and large-scale uptake in the reimbursement markets.
Sabine Dupont highlighted the complexity of diabetes management and how digital tools and technologies have the potential not only to improve quality of life and health outcomes for PwD but also to support healthcare systems’ resilience and sustainability.
The IDF Europe Diabetes Advocate Award
Since 2012, IDF Europe has been recognising outstanding achievements in the diabetes community through special awards. These prizes celebrate excellence, innovation and commitment in support of the diabetes community and foster the exchange and promotion of innovative approaches and initiatives that truly improve the lives of PwD.
In 2024, we are excited to announce the Diabetes Advocate Award, supported by Lilly Diabetes, which will celebrate a diabetes advocate who has made a significant impact in advocating for PwD’s rights.
Applications for the Diabetes Advocate Award will open in July.
IDF EUROPE ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATION WORK
World Refugee Day
On the occasion of World Refugee Day (June 6), we highlighted the support refugees living with NCDs such as diabetes require to effectively manage their condition.
Navigating a foreign healthcare system can be challenging due to language, cultural and operation barriers. Refugees also have a higher risk of developing diabetes, due to increased stress, inadequate living conditions, food insecurity and lack of access to comprehensive care.
There is a clear need to adapt diabetes treatment and culturally sensitive education to the specific needs of refugees. Updating legal regulations specifically targeting access to treatment and medication and especially access to mental health for refugees living with diabetes can be of great support to them.
EU Council Conclusions on the Future of the European Health Union
On June 21, the Belgian Presidency and the Members of the Council of the EU adopted their conclusions on the future of the European Health Union, calling on the European Commission to keep health as a priority in its upcoming five-year term and highlighting the need to act on nine key health-related challenges:
- tackling the health workforce crisis;
- addressing priority needs in healthcare and innovation policies;
- taking action in the field of prevention of NCDs;
- effectively combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR);
- strengthening the EU ecosystem for clinical trials;
- taking action in the fields of preparedness and communicable diseases;
- improving the security of supply for, and access to, medicinal products and the security of supply for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices;
- addressing the impact of climate change on health; and
- improving EU implementation tools.
IDF Europe welcomes the focus on NCDs prevention within the conclusions and urges the EU institutions and Member States to implement the proposed actions through a health-in-all-policies approach and accelerate action to strengthen the management of NCDs.
EU-FUNDED PROJECTS
DigiCare4You online review meeting
IDF Europe is part of the Horizon 2020 project, DigiCare4You, which aims to improve the early prevention and management of T2D and hypertension (HTN).
On June 26, consortium partners gathered online for a review meeting with the European Commission to present the progress achieved during the second reporting period. Work package leaders presented the progress in their respective tasks and had a discussion with the project officer and two external reviewers. The discussions were productive for establishing the next steps of the project.
Establishment of the DigiCare4You “International Stakeholder Advisory Board”
Beyond the aim of improving the early prevention and management of T2D and HTN, the DigiCare4You project aims to assess the scalability and transferability of the solution within the implementation countries and beyond.
To support the development of a scalable and transferable solution, an International Stakeholder Advisory Board (ISAB) has been set up as part of the project.
New DigiCare4You country profile on diabetes and hypertension in Greece
As part of DigiCare4You, country profiles on diabetes and hypertension have been developed for the project pilot countries – Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Spain.
The country profile for Greece was published this month. The document provides an overview of the prevalence and trends in T2D and HTN, and the national responses and policies that have been developed to tackle these conditions in the country.
Brain Talks Podcast featuring researchers from the PRIME study
The Brain Innovation Days recently released a new episode of their Brain Talks Podcast, featuring PRIME Horizon2020 researchers, Silke Matura and Simone Macri.
The 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.
In the Brain Talks Podcast, Silke Matura and Simone Macri discussed the role of insulin in brain diseases and how conditions such as T2D often occur alongside OCD and Alzheimer’s.
The researchers talked about what makes the PRIME study’s research so complex and innovative, the challenges they faced during the pandemic and some of the study's early findings.
DIABETES-RELATED PUBLICATIONS
JDRF published a new guidance on T1D diagnosis
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), along with over 60 international experts and 10 diabetes organisations, recently published new Type 1 diabetes (T1D) monitoring guidance for HCPs.
Research has shown that the condition can exist without symptoms for months or years as early-stage T1D, before it is diagnosed. However, until now there was no standard advice on how to detect, follow up and support people with early-stage T1D. The publication fills this gap by providing concrete guidance on how to diagnose early-stage T1D, monitor its progression, identify symptoms early to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis and identify those eligible for clinical trials.
Other publications
The Lancet Public Health | “Differences across the lifespan between females and males in the top 20 causes of disease burden globally: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021” | Read the article
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology | “Food additive emulsifiers and the risk of type 2 diabetes: analysis of data from the NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort study” | Read the article
World Health Organisation | “Tackling NCDs: best buys and other recommended interventions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases”, 2nd edition | Read the publication
UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS EUROPE
IDF Europe Youth Leadership Camp (YLC) 2024
July 7-13, 2024 |For more information, click here
European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) 15th Conference
Dublin, August 19-21, 2024 |For more information, click here
Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) 29th Annual Conference
Brussels, September 6-7, 2024 |For more information, click here
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 60th Annual Meeting
Madrid, September 10-13, 2024 |For more information, click here
IDF Europe Regional Council
Rome, October 12-13, 2024 | More information will be available before the summer
International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) 50th Annual Conference
Lisbon, October 16-19, 2024 |For more information, click here
Brain Innovation Days
Brussels, November 13-14, 2024 | For more information, click here
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