Held on 20–21 April in Kyrgyzstan, the training programme, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment in Primary Care Practice, aimed to strengthen healthcare professionals’ knowledge and skills to improve health outcomes for people living with diabetes. The initiative indicates the growing recognition of primary healthcare as a sensitive entry point for tackling the global diabetes impact.
Delivered through the ongoing partnership between the International Diabetes Federation and Sanofi’s Global Health Unit (GHU), the initiative indicates an important expansion of support for healthcare professionals in Central Asia and builds on previous sessions in Africa and South-East Asia. It brought together 125 physicians from across Kyrgyzstan for two days of practical, case-based learning to strengthen diabetes care at the primary healthcare level.
The training comes as diabetes continues to place increasing pressure on healthcare systems worldwide, underpinning the importance of sustained investment in professional development.
According to the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas estimates, over 263,000 adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes in Kyrgyzstan. This number is projected to rise to 413,800 by 2050, highlighting the growing prevalence of diabetes in the country and the need for more prevention, early diagnosis and effective care at the primary healthcare level.
Sessions focused on early diagnosis and screening, evidence-based treatment, prevention strategies, complications management and strengthening communication to support self-management. They also included practical group learning centred on prevention, complications and patient-centred care, concluding with a post-assessment and reflection on key lessons and next steps.
The programme marked the Kyrgyz Diabetes Association’s 25-year membership in the International Diabetes Federation, reflecting a committed collaboration to advancing diabetes care. It was endorsed by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kyrgyz State Medical Institute for Retraining and Continuing Education, and delivered in partnership with Healthy Futures Public Association, highlighting the value of strong national and international partnerships in building sustainable diabetes care capacity.
Organisers said initiatives such as this demonstrate how context-specific capacity-building can strengthen frontline healthcare systems and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes, while laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration and future progress.
