Diabetes is on the rise, and projections show another six million people—totaling about 72 million—living with the condition by 2050. Alarmingly, one in three individuals remains undiagnosed, and roughly half of people with diabetes fail to reach their treatment targets, leaving them vulnerable to serious, life-changing complications.
Access to new medicines, technologies, education, and screening remains uneven across and within countries. Health systems often deliver fragmented care. More research is essential to strengthen prevention, develop less invasive self-management tools, discover new therapies, and, ultimately, find a cure.
To tackle these gaps, IDF Europe hosted an Expert Day on December 4 that brought together people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, healthcare professionals, scientists, policymakers, patient organizations, and experts in related fields. The discussions zeroed in on three areas with the potential to transform how diabetes is managed:
Preventing type 2 diabetes and achieving remission
For a long time, diabetes was viewed as an inevitably progressive condition. New evidence, however, shows that a combination of lifestyle changes (such as reduced-energy diets and regular physical activity), therapeutic options (like GLP-1 medications), and surgical interventions (for example, bariatric surgery) can, in some cases, prevent type 2 diabetes or allow some individuals to go into remission.
Further research is needed to reinforce prevention, create less invasive self-management tools, develop new therapies, and, ideally, reach a cure.
Technology, especially continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), can aid early detection, inform intervention choices, and help people with diabetes and their healthcare teams visualize glucose trends and respond accordingly. Yet full realization of these benefits hinges on timely detection, prompt access to appropriate interventions, and sustained follow-up and support before and after remission. Equally important is a shift in how we conceptualize type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes as the root cause of other chronic conditions
Diabetes is not simply a stand-alone disease. Dysglycemia heightens the risk of cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease, as well as retinopathy, neuropathy, and other complications. Approximately one in three people with diabetes develop cardiovascular disease, and about one in three face kidney disease.
Given shared risk factors between diabetes and other chronic conditions, a coordinated approach to screening, early detection, and management is essential—complemented by condition-specific solutions that address unique challenges.
New diabetes therapies now offer benefits beyond glucose control, helping protect the heart, kidneys, and liver. However, more research is needed on agents that provide cardio-renal protection for type 1 diabetes and to determine how best to use existing treatments.
With bold, coordinated action, we can transform detection, prevention, and treatment, ultimately improving the lives of millions of people living with or at risk of diabetes.
Building toward a cure for type 1 diabetes
For those with type 1 diabetes, life currently depends on insulin. Advances in cell and gene therapies—such as cell replacement, gene editing, and cellular regeneration—offer real hope for a future cure. Turning that hope into reality requires stronger coordination across Europe on knowledge sharing, manufacturing, scalability, regulation, data sharing, and access.
Europe stands at a critical juncture. Scientific progress in diabetes is accelerating, but unlocking its full potential demands ambitious EU and national policies that ensure equitable access to innovations, sustained research funding, and a redesign of health systems. With decisive action, we can transform detection, prevention, and treatment, improving the lives of millions living with or at risk of diabetes.
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