The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is co-hosting two high-level side events at the 79th World Health Assembly this month, focussing on diabetes prevention, integrated care and primary care.
On 19 May, the International Diabetes Federation, the World Diabetes Foundation and the World Obesity Federation are co-hosting a session addressing the growing challenge of childhood obesity and its link to type 2 diabetes. The session, Preventing Childhood Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Advancing Leadership for Sustainable Impact, will examine how early-life interventions can reduce long-term disease risk.
According to the latest IDF estimates, 589 million adults were living with diabetes in 2024, with the total projected to exceed 850 million by 2050. At the same time, overweight and obesity among children now surpass underweight globally, while an estimated one billion people are expected to be living with obesity by 2030. Without urgent action, these trends are set to increase pressure on health systems and undermine sustainable development.
The discussion will highlight policy solutions ranging from healthier school food environments to urban planning that promotes physical activity, as well as stronger integration of prevention into national health strategies. It will also introduce the World Diabetes Day 2026–2027 theme, focused on early action on diabetes.
A second side event on 20 May brings together a coalition of countries: Tanzania, Kenya and Guatemala, alongside international organisations, including the International Diabetes Federation, the International Society of Nephrology and the United Nations Population Fund. Titled Gestational Diabetes and Beyond: Strengthening Primary Care for Integrated Reno-Metabolic Health Across the Life Course, the session will focus on gestational diabetes as a critical entry point for addressing a broader range of noncommunicable diseases.
With one in six live births affected by diabetes during pregnancy, gestational diabetes is increasingly recognised as an early warning sign of future health risks. It is linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease in both mothers and their children.
Speakers will explore strategies to translate global guidance into practical, person-centred primary healthcare solutions. Discussions will centre on integrating maternal health services with long-term prevention, early detection and management of noncommunicable diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is rising fastest. The programme will also reflect commitments made at the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs, which warned that progress in reducing premature deaths has stalled.
Together, these two sessions underscore a shared message: addressing diabetes and related conditions requires coordinated, life-course action, with primary healthcare systems playing a pivotal role in delivering sustainable impact.
