Across Italy, institutions, associations and diabetes advocates, including IDF Europe Members, Italian Diabetes Societies Federation (FeSDI) and Italian Association of Athletes Living with Diabetes (ANIAD), marked World Diabetes Day with a series of awareness-raising activities and public events.
On November 13, Senator Daniela Sbrollini and the Parliamentary Intergroup on Obesity, Diabetes, Coeliac Disease and Non-Communicable Diseases organised a high-level meeting in the Sala Zuccari of the Senate in Rome, where policymakers, diabetologists, researchers and representatives from diabetes associations discussed the realities of diabetes in the workplace and the importance of ensuring equal treatment, appropriate support and stigma-free work environments.
On November 14, FESDI, Sport e Salute and the Parliamentary Intergroup on Obesity, Diabetes, Coeliac Disease and Non-Communicable Diseases celebrated World Diabetes Day at the Foro Italico, in Rome, with the event “Teaming Up Around Diabetes .” The event opened with a roundtable on Sport and Health, organised by the Permanent Observatory “Sport, physical activity, and sedentary lifestyle: current trends and tendencies.” Managers and researchers from the Italian Statistics institute (ISTAT) presented the latest national data and analyses, highlighting evolving patterns in physical activity and sedentary behaviour across the country. A second roundtable, “Together for a winning team,” brought powerful personal testimonies from professional athletes living with diabetes, including marathon runner, Anna Arnaudo, fencer, Giulio Gaetani, swimmer, Federico Rizzardi, and Team Novo Nordisk cyclist, Jacopo Colladon. ANIAD President, Cristina Brunelli, also participated, underscoring the importance of advocacy and shared experiences in supporting athletes living with diabetes.
On November 23 in Segni (Rome), ANIAD Lazio held a community event opened by Prof. Felice Strollo, featuring information sessions on healthy lifestyles, nutrition education and a city walk and blood glucose screening. On November 15-16, ANIAD Abruzzo, in collaboration with the Italian Diabetes Foundation (FID) and Diabete Italia, organised two days of awareness actions and walks in Pescara under the slogan “Stronger together.” In Oristano, ANIAD Sardegna, together with Diabete Italia, hosted an event on “Diabetes and well-being: beyond health, to live every day better,” featuring the presentation of the Serena Project on diabetes alert dogs and the Blue Balloon Challenge.
Throughout Italy, iconic landmarks, including Palazzo Madama, Palazzo Montecitorio, Palazzo Chigi, the Colosseum and Palazzo Zanca in Messina, were illuminated in blue, sending a powerful message of solidarity with people living with diabetes.
These diverse activities brought together politicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, athletes, volunteers and citizens, reinforcing a shared commitment to improving prevention, awareness and diabetes care across Italy.
