Each year, November 14 marks World Diabetes Day (WDD) – a key opportunity to unite our community, raise awareness of diabetes across Europe and advocate for the policies needed to ensure that everyone living with, or at risk of, diabetes can live long, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Despite continued advances in care, significant unmet needs remain. Too many people still face barriers to early detection and screening, access to medicinesandtechnologies and integrated care for diabetes and its related
complications such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). This year, inspired by our vision “From early detection to cure – transforming life with diabetes through innovation, leaving no one behind”– we reaffirmed our commitment to improving access to quality care, and strengthening the voices of people living with diabetes (PwD).
Throughout Diabetes Awareness Month 2025, IDF Europe organised a series of initiatives to highlight our key priorities. These activities included a social media campaign outlining our main key messages, our mobile health unit in Brussels offering free blood glucose testing and two events at the European Parliament (EP), gathering members of your YOURAH network, healthcare professionals (HCPs), policymakers, researchers and people with lived experience. Together, these initiatives aimed to drive meaningful discussions and advance efforts to improve diabetes care across Europe.
Continue reading our November newsletter to discover more about our activities and diabetes-related news from Europe.
OUR WORLD DIABETES DAY INITIATIVES
MEPs join us in celebrating WDD
On the occasion of WDD, several Members of the EP (MEPs), including members of the MEP Interest Group on Diabetes, MEPs Mobilising for Diabetes (MMD), joined our events and initiatives at the EP and shared video messages to raise awareness of diabetes and highlight the need for stronger policy action.
We extend our sincere thanks to all the MEPs who supported our activities: Peter Agius, Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral, Laurent Castillo, Sunčana Glavak, Adam Jarubas, Romana Jerković, Billy Kelleher, Elena Nevado del Campo, Sirpa Pietikäinen and Manuela Ripa. Their engagement helps call for stronger policy action at both EU and national levels to improve health outcomes and quality of life for PwD and those at risk.
“The sound of diabetes” – youth voices at the European Parliament
On November 12, IDF Europe and our YOURAH network brought together young diabetes advocates, HCPs and policymakers to “The sound of diabetes”, an event hosted by MEP Peter Agius at the EP. The session highlighted the lived experiences of young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and demonstrated the powerful impact their voices can have in political spaces.
Through three panel discussions, the participants explored the mental health burden of T1D, the stigma and discrimination faced in schools and workplaces, and the role of sport in supporting both mental and physical well-being. The conversations underscored the urgency of integrating mental health into standard diabetes care, promoting inclusion in work and educational settings and ensuring that support systems meet PwD’s needs.
We thank MEP Agius, all speakers and youth advocates for their insights, experiences and calls to action.
“Towards a sex- & gender-sensitive diabetes
strategy”
On November 13, IDF Europe held an event at the EP co-hosted by MEPs Paulo Nascimento Cabral and Sirpa Pietikäinen, focusing on the challenges faced by women living with diabetes and the urgent need for sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in care, research and policy.
The event opened with powerful testimonials and presentations from diabetes advocates and HCPs, who highlighted how current diabetes care and technologies often fail to meet women’s needs. They pointed to the underrepresentation of women in research,
limited funding for studies exploring sex- and gender-specific differences, and limited knowledge from HCPs on women’s health.
Following this was a panel discussion addressing the need for dedicated funding, stronger education for HCPsand PwD, and innovations reflecting women’s needs. Panellists also stressed the importance of embedding women’s health across all EU policies.
“Know your numbers”: IDF Europe mobile health unit
From November 12 to 14, IDF Europe set up a Mobile Health Unit in front of the EP in Brussels, providing free health checks to help visitors understand their risk of diabetes, CVD and obesity.
Throughout the event, 180 people had their HbA1c, lipid levels, blood pressure and other key indicators measured. Participants were eager to learn more about their numbers and received on-site guidance and education from HCPs.
This initiative aimed to raise awareness of diabetes and its related conditions as well as to underscore the importance of screening, early detection and timely treatment to support effective management and reduce the risk of serious complications.
IDF Europe’s Director of Strategy and Policy, Sabine Dupont led a panel on the lived experience of managing T1D alongside CVD. Panellists highlighted the emotional and physical challenges, the gaps in tailored support and the limited awareness among HCPs of the interaction between the two conditions and ways to address it.
On November 14-16, IDF Europe attended the Global Parliamentary Diabetes Advocacy Forum, organised byParliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network (PDGN) in Malta, where policymakers from around the world discussed strategies to improve diabetes prevention, early detection and care.
IDF Europe Board Members, Dr. Sufyan Hussain and Prof.
João Raposo, made presentations on the role of advocacy and the early detection of T1D, respectively. The meeting concluded with the Valletta Call to Action, a policy document outlining key priorities for governments to strengthen diabetes care worldwide.
IDF Europe Advocate Award 2025:
celebrating outstanding diabetes advocacy
As part of WDD 2025, IDF Europe proudly announced the recipients of this year’s Advocate Awards. Supported by Lilly, the award recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to improving the lives, rights and care of PwD across Europe. Below, we highlight the inspiring work of our two 2025 awardees: Davor Skeledžija and Marcello Grussu.
Davor Skeledžija – driving structural change in diabetes care
Diagnosed with T1D at age 13, Davor has been working with local and national diabetes associations to expand the reimbursement of diabetes medicines and continuous glucose monitors for people living with T1D and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Croatia, improving equity and affordability of care.
He also
played a key role in campaigns to remove discriminatory regulations that prevented people on insulin therapy from obtaining professional driving licenses, advancing equal employment opportunities.
Marcello Grussu – advancing PwD rights through sport
Diagnosed with T1D in 1986, Marcello Grussu has spent decades proving that diabetes is not a barrier to achievement. As President of ANIAD (Italian National Association of Athletes with Diabetes), he has championed the transformative role of sport in diabetes management, prevention and social inclusion.
Marcello is also a committed advocate for the rights of PwD in Italy, fostering collaboration between institutions, scientific societies and diabetes associations to strengthen care and awareness.
Interviews with Davor and Marcello will be released soon!
Blood glucose testing activities during Diabetes Awareness Month
Each year, during Diabetes Awareness Month, IDF Europe organises blood glucose testing events at several EU institution buildings to raise awareness of diabetes, its risk factors and the importance of screening and early detection to reduce the risk of serious complications. This year, we organised six testing events, and tested a total of 620 people.
The events once again proved highly impactful, creating opportunities for informative discussions about diabetes and managing its risk.
YOUTH PLATFORM
Diabetes and mental health: the 2025 YOURAH Forum
On November 11-13, 20 young diabetes advocates from the IDF Europe YOURAH network met in Brussels for the annual YOURAH Forum, an opportunity for our Youth Leadership Labalumni to reconnect and engage in shared advocacy
efforts.
Over three days, under the theme, “Diabetes and Mental Health”, participants explored the emotional burden of diabetes, stigma and discrimination, and the importance of mental well-being for effective self-management and advocacy.
Would you like to play a role in uniting and strengthening the voices of young diabetes advocates across Europe? We are now welcoming applications from our Member Associations to host the 2026 IDF Europe Youth Leadership Lab.
The Youth Leadership Camp, now Youth Leadership Lab (YLL), is an IDF Europe long-standing initiative designed
to nurture a new generation of diabetes advocates and build a strong, pan-European youth network.
Each year, around 24 advocates aged 18-30 from IDF Europe Member Associations take part in the YLL, which includes a series of online workshops followed by an in-person camp. The 2026 in-person camp will take place from July 5 to 11.
If your Member Association is interested in hosting the next edition of the YLL, please complete the application form by January 31.
Every year, national diabetes associations mark WDD with a wide range of inspiring initiatives. From awareness campaigns, health checks and exhibitions to sports events, activities in schools and workplaces, and lighting landmarks in blue, their efforts play a key role in raising awareness of diabetes and reminding policymakers and the public that more needs to be done to improve the lives of PwD and those at risk.
Blue lights and community strength across Slovenia
Throughout November, the Slovenian Diabetes Association organised nationwide activities promoting physical activity, prevention and awareness, including community challenges, local celebrations and blue illuminations of buildings across the country.
Kazakhstan strengthens diabetes prevention and foot care
To mark WDD, the Diabetes Association of the Republic of Kazakhstan offered foot examinations for PwD and training sessions for endocrinologists to support the prevention and management of diabetes foot complications.
Italy unites communities for diabetes awareness and prevention
Across Italy, IDF Europe Members, FeSDI and ANIAD, together with policymakers, other diabetes associations and public institutions organised a wide range of activities, from sporting events to roundtable discussions to raise awareness of diabetes, promote prevention and
celebrate WDD.
Germany celebrates with science and awareness in action
DiabetesDE marked WDD with scientific exchange and public outreach, including their “Meilensteine der Diabetologie” Congress highlighting the latest development in diabetes care and a TV programme reaching over one million viewers.
A day of diabetes screening, education and blue lights in Cyprus
The Cyprus Diabetic Association marked WDD with nationwide blood glucose and blood pressure testing, awareness initiatives, educational seminars for HCPs on diabetes prevention and care, a marathon and public buildings illuminated in blue.
Over the past year, the Hellenic Diabetes Federation (ELODI) ran a series of initiatives to raise awareness of diabetes and support PwD across Greece.
As part of a nationwide campaign on diabetes-related complications, ELODI developed educational materials on prevention and management, distributed through clinics, public events and community sessions.Two youth-focused initiatives were also developed: “Blue on sail,”a sailing activity for young adults living with T1D, and “Champions in action – diabetes without limits”, a campaign showcasing athletes living with T1D to challenge stigma.
IDF Europe calls for stronger EU standards for continuous glucose monitors
Accurate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is essential for PwD, yet recent concerns over the performance of some CE-marked devices highlight gaps in current EU oversight.
To ensure safety and reliability, IDF Europe has been advocating for improvements to the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR), including clear, EU-wide criteria for assessing CGM accuracy and effectiveness. To support its Members, IDF Europe has also developed a two-page document explaining how CGMs are currently assessed in the EU, outlining the main challenges, guiding them on how to report adverse events to national authorities and summarising the key features that high-quality CGMs should meet.
Panel discussion on early detection & better care for heart failure
On November 18, IDF Europe Regional Manager, Elisabeth Dupont, took part in a High-level Panel Discussion at the EP, titled “Early detection, better care: heart failure as a priority in the EU Cardiovascular Health Plan,”hosted by MEP Romana Jerković and organised by the Heart Failure Policy Network.
During the event, Elisabeth
highlighted the interconnected nature of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the heightened CVD risk for PwD. She called for improved screening for heart failure in higher-risk populations, systematic CVD risk assessments in diabetes care, timely treatment according to clinical guidelines and person-centred, integrated, multidisciplinary care models.
The European
Patients’ Forum
Congress
On November 26-27, IDF Europe Regional Manager, Elisabeth Dupont, and Director, Strategy & Policy, Sabine Dupont, attended the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) Congress, the largest European event dedicated to the involvement of people with lived experience in healthcare, policy and research.
The event provided a unique platform for dialogue, collaboration and advocacy to promote
resilient, inclusive and person-centred healthcare systems. For our community, it provided an opportunity to highlight the needs of PwD within key discussions and to strengthen connections with other health-related organisations.
The three-day conference will bring together leading health experts to discuss the latest evidence, landmark studies and updates to clinical practice guidelines across internal medicine.
As part of the Annual Update in Diabetology session, IDF Europe Board Member, Prof. Leszek Czupryniak, will make a presentation on treatment options for people living with prediabetes.
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.
9. The age of diabetes enlightenment: Marabelli, Frank and the birth of diabetes inspidius
Chapter Nine takes us into the late 18th century, where scientific curiosity and hospital reforms transformed how diabetes was understood. At the heart of this shift stands Francesco Marabelli (1761–1846), a young chemist from Pavia whose collaborations with the renowned Bavarian clinician Johann Peter Frank helped usher in a new era of diagnostic insight.
Working in the San Matteo Hospital pharmacy, Marabelli recognised the need for a more rational, evidence-driven pharmacopoeia. His analyses of urine samples in 1788 led to a key distinction: not all polyuria was the same. Some urine was sweet – characteristic of diabetes mellitus – while other cases involved abundant but tasteless, “insipid” urine.
Building on Marabelli’s observations, Frank described seven cases in his De curandis and formally differentiated diabetes mellitus (“diabetes verus”) from diabetes insipidus, marking the first clear diagnostic separation of the two conditions. Frank even succeeded in crystallising sugar from the urine of people with diabetes mellitus using alcoholic fermentation – an early diagnostic test long before laboratories existed.
This chapter offers a vivid glimpse into the Age of Enlightenment, showing how chemistry, clinical observation and system-wide health reforms converged to deepen our understanding of diabetes and its many forms.
Are you curious to learn about the long quest to understand diabetes? Explore this fascinating story in Chapter Eight of Readings on Diabetes.
EMA releases new booklet on medicine safety in the EU
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published a new booklet,‘From laboratory to patients – how the safety of medicines is ensured in the EU’. The report provides an accessible overview of how EU Member States work together to evaluate and monitor medicines,implement risk-minimisation measures and ensure clear communication about potential risks.
The publication also highlights the critical role of experts, patients and HCPs in strengthening medicine safety and maintaining trust in treatments.
The EMA‘s human medicines committee, the CHMP, has recommended a new therapy that can delay the onset of stage 3 T1D in adults and children aged 8+ with stage 2 T1D. The treatment works by slowing the immune-mediated attack on beta cells and is administered as a 14-day course of daily intravenous infusions.
The CHMP opinion is an intermediary step and will now be sent to the
European Commission for a decision on EU-wide marketing authorisation. Once authorised, pricing and reimbursement decisions will be made by each Member State.
IDF Europe is part of the Erasmus+ project Sports & Diabetes: Diabetes Digital Peer S(up)port (DiaPs), which aims to develop an app for peer support where PwD can share their experience of managing their condition during sport activities.
In preparation for the app release, DiaPs is sharing content on social media featuring practical tips,
myth-busting posts and insights from athletes living with diabetes.
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 through the integration of social and healthcare systems, supported by digital tools.
New educational
resources for WDD
As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen early prevention and awareness, and to celebrate WDD, DigiCare4You released a new video explaining the mechanisms behind T2D.
Albanian-language educational video on hypertension
To broaden access to clear and reliable information to a wider audience, the DigiCare4You educational video on hypertension has now been translated into Albanian.
DigiCare4You process evaluation plan and tools at the participant level
Implementation and process evaluations are an integral part of health intervention trials. To assess the effectiveness of the DigiCare4You solution at the participant level, a process evaluation plan and tools were developed based on the changes found between baseline, 12 and 24-month follow-ups in clinical indices including various blood measurements, blood pressure, anthropometric values and self-reported quality of life.
