Editorial

Reversing the trend

Diabetes is a growing epidemic, with the number of people living with diabetes in Europe currently standing at 55 million. Added to this, the latest figures from the IDF Atlas update, released on 14 November 2012, reveal that at least 21.2 million people in Europe are yet to be diagnosed.

Rising numbers throughout the region highlight the need for better prevention and education. Cost-effective strategies exist. They could save hundreds of millions Euros every year but most of all they could save countless lives. Yet, strong political commitment and concrete actions are still sorely needed.
Diabetes prevention remains dramatically underfunded and poorly acknowledged. The lingering economic crisis only exacerbates these issues.

In times of economic hardship, governments should not opt for policies that put the health and wellbeing of their citizens at risk in exchange of short-term financial gains. There needs to be a shift amongst political leaders: diabetes education and prevention needs to be seen as an investment and as an important contributor to economic growth.

In this context, IDF Europe would like to thank each national and local diabetes association, as well as each person who took part in World Diabetes Day celebrations.

During this important time for the diabetes community, the countless number of powerful and inspiring initiatives you carried out to reach out to people living with diabetes, decision makers and the general public are such a vital part of our fight against diabetes.

IDF Europe will continue its efforts for your actions at local and national levels to be complemented by a strong European framework to tackle the diabetes epidemic. European and international institutions have a crucial role to play in leading the way to innovative, comprehensive and cross-sectorial strategies for diabetes prevention, research and education. 

It is only through a collective response involving all relevant stakeholders at European, national, regional and local levels that we will be able to reverse the diabetes epidemic and protect the future of millions of citizens in Europe and beyond.

João Manuel Valente Nabais,
IDF Europe President

World Diabetes Day Issue - n° 28 - 30 November 2012

Highlights

Diabetes on the increase in Europe New estimates indicate that 55 million of the European adult population will have diabetes by the end of 2012, compared to 53 million last year. Rising tide of diabetes in Europe reinforces need for prevention and education. Read More Healthy eating, healthy living: IDF Europe engages with European Parliament for World Diabetes Day As the diabetes epidemic is escalating and obesity rates increase at an alarming rate, promoting a healthy attitude towards food and physical activity needs to be at the top of Europe’s health agenda. IDF Europe brought up the issue with the European Parliament on WDD. Read More APDP receives 1st IDF Europe Prize in Diabetes The Portuguese Diabetes Association APDP was presented with the first IDF Europe Prize in Diabetes on World Diabetes Day in recognition of its continuous and outstanding work to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. Read More Biking through Europe for diabetes 14 days to bike from Brussels to Barcelona and raise awareness of diabetes: this is the challenge proposed by the Grand Tour. Continuing its awareness raising campaign on healthy and active lifetyles launched for World Diabetes Day this year, IDF Europe will be a partner of this unique cycle ride. Read more

News from Europe

Azerbaijan: investing in diabetes World Diabetes Day marked an important victory for the Azerbaijan Diabetes Society. This year’s celebrations followed up a very successful campaign to allocate more funds to diabetes care, prevention and education. Read More Bulgaria: Protect our future Diabetes treatment, healthy eating and physical activity were the issues on focus for the 2012 WDD campaign of the Bulgarian Diabetes Association. Find out more about the activities organized in Bulgarian during Diabetes Awareness Month. Read More Croatia celebrates World Diabetes Day The Croatian Diabetes Association (CDA) made sure diabetes was on the map this 14 november with numerous activities to mark World Diabetes Day. From conferences, to blood-glucose testing and special TV programmes, read more on the many initiatives organized by CDA. Denmark: heredity and diabetes Raising awareness on risk factors and prevention for type 2 diabetes: this was the focus of the World Diabetes Day campaign led by the Danish Diabetes Association this year.With heredity and diabetes as a central message, the association developed a campaign at both national and local levels. Find out more France: fighting discrimination at the workplace To mark World Diabetes Day, the French Diabetes Association (AFD) released their White Book entitled « Diabetes at the Workplace », a report that highlights discrimination against people living with diabetes in the professional environment. Read more Germany: a picture is worth a thousand words diabetesDE - German Diabetes Aid developed a powerful campaign to raise awareness amongts the general public about diabetes complications such as amputations or loss of eyesight. Find out more on the campaign and the numerous other initiatives organized by the association. Walk for diabetes in Georgia Georgia went blue for World Diabetes Day with several activities to raise awareness on diabetes throughout the country. Initiatives include a walk for diabetes, participation in the Blue Monument Challenge, as well as engaging with politicians. Read more Diabetes on the political agenda in Malta The Maltese Diabetes Association brought diabetes to the political agenda as part of its World Diabetes Day campaign this year. Together with the Maltese Ministry of Health, the Elderly and Community Care, the association organized a series of events from 10 to 17 November. Read more Moldova mobilizes for diabetes Prodiab, the Moldovan Diabetes Association, made sure the voice of people with diabetes was heard during World Diabetes Day celebrations this year. The association was present on different fronts to raise awareness on this condition across the country. Find out more Gaining momentum in Poland Educational trainings, conferences, free blood-glucose testings, walks in several cities of Poland and even a theatre play on diabetes: these are amongst the activities organized and coordinated by the Polish Diabetes Association to celebrate World Diabetes Day. Find out more Serbia goes blue for World Diabetes Day Conferences in the National Parliament, engaging with children living with diabetes and organizing a photo exhibition in Belgrade are amongst the many activities organized across Serbia as part of WDD celebrations. Read more   Slovakia: focus on education Education on diabetes-related complications was on focus this year for World Diabetes Day in Slovakia, as well as cooperation with neighbouring countries, as the Slovakian Diabetes Association partnered with Diaktiv, a diabetes association fro Czech Republic, to organize joint events for WDD. Read more Celebrations all across Slovenia Flashmobs in the street of Ljubjana, awareness-raising activities in schools, special call signs on radio waves and a zumba party: diabetes advocates made sure World Diabetes Day was everywhere in Slovenia on 14 November. Find out more Turkey breaks world record 7,042 blood glucose testings in 8 hours: this is the new Guinness World Record set by Turkdiab, the Turkish Diabetes Foundation on 18 November in Istanbul. Click here to read more about the record-breaking event and the activities organized in Turkey to celebrate World Diabetes Day. Raising awareness in Ukraine Diabetes prevention and education were on focus for the campaign organized by the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation to celebrate World Diabetes Day. Initiatives include a poster campaign, contribution to the Blue Monument Challenge and engaging with the media. Read more Diabetes goes viral in the UK Diabetes went viral in the United Kingdom as Diabetes UK launched its new 4 Ts campaign for children and young people with diabetes. The 4 Ts campaign (for the 4 main symptons of type 1 diabetes: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Thinner) received a hugely successful response on social media, with millions of Tweets and more than 150,000 promotions on Facebook. Find out more Diabetes Awareness Month in Uzbekistan "Protect our Future" was the campaign theme under which Umid-D, the Diabetes Association of the Samarkand region, organized several activities for their Diabetes Awareness Month, together with partners including the Association of Endocrinologists of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Find out more

To submit content for the IDF Europe Quarterly Newsletter, contact Gaël Bassetto at Gael.Bassetto@idf-europe.org