Diabetes is on a relentless rise, and by 2050 the condition will affect about 72 million people worldwide—six more million than today. Alarmingly, one out of three individuals with the disease remains undiagnosed, and roughly half of those living with diabetes fail to reach their treatment goals, leaving them vulnerable to serious complications that could alter their lives.
Access to new medicines, technologies, education, and effective screening remains inconsistent within and across countries. Health systems often operate in silos, and more research is necessary to strengthen prevention, develop less invasive self-management tools, and discover therapies that could one day cure the condition.
To tackle these gaps, IDF Europe hosted an Expert Day on December 4, bringing together people living with both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), along with healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, patient organizations, and experts in related fields. The discussions zeroed in on three areas with the potential to revolutionize how diabetes is managed:
1) Preventing T2D and achieving remission
For years, diabetes was viewed as an inexorable, worsening disease. New evidence shows that a combination of lifestyle changes (such as low-energy diets and regular physical activity), medical interventions (including GLP-1-based therapies), and surgical options (like bariatric surgery) can, in some cases, prevent T2D and even lead to remission.
Ongoing research is still required to reinforce prevention strategies, create safer and less invasive self-management tools, and develop new therapies with the ultimate aim of a cure.
Technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can aid in early detection, guide intervention choices, and help people with diabetes and their clinicians visualize and respond to glucose patterns. However, unlocking their full potential depends on timely detection, rapid access to appropriate interventions, and sustained follow-up support before and after remission. Perhaps most crucially, these advances demand a shift in mindset about how society views T2D.
2) Diabetes as a root cause of other chronic conditions
Diabetes is not merely a standalone diagnosis. Dysglycemia raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver problems, retinopathy, neuropathy, and a spectrum of additional complications. About one-third of people with diabetes develop cardiovascular disease, and another third face kidney-related issues.
Because diabetes shares many risk factors with other chronic illnesses, a coordinated approach to screening, early detection, and management is essential. This must be complemented by disease-specific solutions that address the unique challenges of each condition.
New diabetes therapies now offer benefits beyond controlling blood sugar, providing protection for the heart, kidneys, and liver. Yet more research is needed to identify cardio-renal protective agents for T1D and to determine how best to use existing treatments.
With bold, coordinated action, we can transform detection, prevention, and treatment, thereby improving the lives of millions who have diabetes or are at risk.
3) Building towards integrated, person-centered care
Health systems must be redesigned to deliver integrated, patient-centered care, which is the foundation for effectively managing chronic conditions. This approach enables earlier complication detection, reduces premature mortality, and lowers the burden of living with multiple long-term illnesses.
Towards a cure for T1D
For those with T1D, insulin remains a daily necessity. Promising progress in cell and gene therapies—such as cell replacement, gene editing, and cell regeneration—offers real hope for a future cure. Realizing this potential requires stronger coordination across Europe on knowledge sharing, manufacturing, scalability, regulatory processes, data sharing, and ensuring access to these innovations.
Europe stands at a critical juncture. Scientific progress in diabetes is accelerating, but realizing its full potential demands ambitious EU and national policies that ensure equitable access to breakthroughs, sustained research investment, and a reimagining of health systems. With purposeful action, we can transform detection, prevention, and treatment, ultimately improving the lives of millions affected by diabetes or at risk of developing it.
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