Diabetes prevalence continues to rise; six more million people (72 million) will live with the condition by 2050. One in three people remain undiagnosed and around half of PwD do not meet their treatment targets, leaving them at risk of life-altering complications.
Access to new medicines, technologies, education and screening remains uneven within and between countries. Health system delivery is fragmented. More research is still needed to strengthen prevention, develop less invasive self-management tools and new therapies and ultimately find a cure.
To address these gaps, IDF Europe organised an Expert Day on December 4, bringing together people living with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), healthcare professionals (HCPs), scientists, policymakers, patient organisations and experts in related conditions. The discussions focused on three areas with the potential to revolutionise diabetes management.
Preventing T2D and achieving remission
Long considered an inevitably progressive chronic condition, emerging evidence shows that new approaches and innovations – lifestyle (e.g. low-energy diets and physical activity), therapeutic (e.g. GLP-1s) and surgical interventions (e.g. bariatric surgery) – can in some cases help prevent T2D and enable some people to achieve remission.
More research is still needed to strengthen prevention, develop less invasive self-management tools and new therapies and ultimately find a cure
Technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can also play a role by supporting early detection, guiding intervention choices and helping PwD and their HCPs visualise and respond to glucose patterns. However, the full potential of these interventions is still hindered by challenges such as the need for early detection and subsequent timely access to the right intervention, and ongoing follow-up and support both before and after remission. And, perhaps as importantly, they require a mindset shift in how to think about T2D.
Diabetes as the root cause of other chronic conditions
Diabetes is not a stand-alone condition. Dysglycaemia increases the risk of cardiovascular, kidney and liver disease, as well as retinopathy, neuropathy and a range of other issues. One in three PwD develop cardiovascular disease and one in three kidney disease.
Given the shared risk factors between diabetes and other chronic conditions, a joined up approach to screening, early detection and management is essential, complemented by disease-specific solutions that address the unique challenges of each condition.
New diabetes therapies now offer benefits beyond glucose control, protecting the heart, kidneys and liver. But further research is needed on agents offering cardio-renal protection for people living with T1D and to determine the optimal usage of existing solutions.
With the right, ambitious actions, we can transform detection, prevention and treatment, and ultimately improve the lives of millions of people living with, or at risk of, diabetes
Additionally, health systems must be restructured to deliver integrated, person-centred care as the cornerstone of improved chronic conditions’ management to identify complications earlier, reduce premature mortality and lower the burden of living with (multiple) long-term conditions.
Towards a cure for T1D
For people with T1D, life still depends on insulin. Advances in cell and gene therapies – including cell replacement, gene editing and cell regeneration – offer genuine hope for a future cure. Yet, realising this potential requires stronger coordination across Europe on knowledge-sharing, manufacturing, scalability, regulation, availability and data sharing.
Europe stands at a pivotal moment. Scientific progress in diabetes is accelerating, but unlocking its full potential requires ambitious EU and national policies, ensuring equitable access to innovations, sustained investment in research and the redesign of health systems. With the right, ambitious actions, we can transform detection, prevention and treatment, and ultimately improve the lives of millions of people living with, or at risk of, diabetes.
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