IDF Europe is pleased to have endorsed the “Cukrzyca dla Dziewczyn” (“Diabetes for Women”) Weekend, a unique initiative dedicated to women living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Poland.
Advancing sex- and gender-sensitive approaches to diabetes care is a key priority for IDF Europe, and we are pleased to support initiatives that bring this topic to the forefront. On World Diabetes Day 2025, we hosted an event at the European Parliament on women’s health across the life course, where Diabetes Advocate, Adrianna Maciejczyk, opened the discussion by sharing her experience of living with T1D. Further advancing her commitment to this topic, she organised the “Cukrzyca dla Dziewczyn” Weekend in Poland, held on the occasion of International Women’s Day, on March 6-8, in Falenty, near Warsaw.
The event brought together 40 adult women living with T1D, creating a safe and supportive environment for education, empowerment and peer connection. It addressed a critical and often overlooked gap in diabetes care: the need for spaces where women can openly discuss topics such as the menstrual cycle, contraception, pregnancy, postpartum health and menopause.
The programme combined peer-led activities with professional input, ensuring a balance between clinical knowledge and lived experience. It opened with a dedicated workshop on female identity, body awareness and sexuality, creating a safe space to discuss topics often overlooked in routine medical consultations.
The second day featured a series of sessions delivered by healthcare and other professionals addressing key aspects of living with diabetes:
- Dr. Katarzyna Hanus-Durlej (Gynaecologist) explored the intersection of diabetes with women’s reproductive and hormonal health
- Marta Siedlecka (Psychologist) addressed mental health, emotional burden and coping strategies when living with a chronic condition
- Maja Makowska delivered an inspirational session on physical endurance and breaking barriers, including her experience completing a double Ironman while living with diabetes
- Dr. Olga Turowska (Diabetologist) led an open Q&A session, offering participants personalised guidance on real-life challenges
- IDF Europe Board Member, Prof. Leszek Czupryniak presented on cardiovascular risk in women living with diabetes, highlighting long-term health considerations and prevention strategies
To reinforce the focus on empowerment and shared experience, the programme also included participant-led activities such as a make-up workshop, a group pilates session and a coaching session on maintaining motivation while living with diabetes.
Participant feedback highlighted both the emotional and educational impact of the event. Many described feeling understood for the first time in their lives with diabetes, while others emphasised how much they learned about their own bodies despite living with the condition for years. The event also sparked reflections on gaps in routine care, particularly the lack of in-depth conversations with healthcare providers about women-specific aspects of diabetes.
Organised by Adrianna Maciejczyk under the “Cukrzyca dla dziewczyn” initiative, which has been active since 2020 in building a community of women living with diabetes in Poland, the weekend proved highly impactful and participants expressed strong interest in future editions.
