IDF Europe Symposium at EASD - From 2011 to 2019: a critical look to the achievements of NCD agenda for the diabetes community in Europe

June 06 2019

IDF Europe participates in the 55 Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). As in previous years, IDF Europe will be present with a booth  and will organise a symposium prior to the opening of the EASD.

This year, the symposium titled 'From 2011 to 2019: a critical look to the achievements of NCD agenda for the diabetes community in Europe', will be held in the Pinos Hall on Monday 16 September 2019 from 10:00 - 12:30.

Take a look to the agenda and the speakers

More information on the IDF Europe booth will be availabe soon.

Check the practical information here

BLOG: IDF Europe chair Dr Sehnaz Karadeniz share the patients’ perspective during Medtech Week 2019

June 06 2019

The Medtech Week 2019 took place on 3-6 June. It provides a European platform for local initiatives to promote the work the medical technology industry is doing together with different stakeholders – patients, carers, professionals, decision-makers and many others.

In the light of the 2019 theme Medical Technology - Creating solutions for a healthier tomorrow, IDF Europe Chair Dr SEhnaz Karadeniz shared the patients' perspective:

It is incredible when I think that nearly 100 years have passed since the discovery of insulin. Since then, insulin saved the lives of millions of people living with diabetes around the world.

Medical technologies play also a key role in diabetes care and management. They contribute to improving the quality of life of people living with this condition. They have greatly facilitated the need of continuous glucose monitoring and delivery, a treatment supply which otherwise, would mean serious health complications in the short-term as well as in the long-term.

Devices such as insulin pumps or Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems are essential for the proper control and management of diabetes. These blood glucose-monitoring devices serve delaying or even preventing diabetes-related serious complications by better glucose control; data obtained from them can be used daily to make decisions on how to manage diabetes.

Besides, I believe in the enormous potential some latest medical technologies have in improving quality of life among people living with diabetes. For example, at the forefront of diabetes management research, we find the Artificial Pancreas Devices (APD) as one of the most promising and emerging future for diabetes management and care, which replaces manual self-blood glucose monitoring and the use of insulin shots at the same time as it provides both insulin and glucagon hormone automatically. At IDF Europe, we are involved in the OPEN project consortium, which establishes evidence-based information surrounding the impact of Do-it-Yourself Artificial Pancreas Systems (DIY APS) a patient-led innovation for people with diabetes and wider healthcare systems.

No need to say that the safety and reliability of these devices are of utmost importance.

I personally take the opportunity of MedTech Week 2019 to, of course, celebrate the role of medical devices in improving the lives of people of diabetes; but also to remind the industry and all relevant stakeholders on the need to involve patients in the review process. As patients and users have first-hand experiences with medical devices, it is essential that their expertise is taken into account when assessing new high-risk devices.

Dr Dehnaz Karadeniz, IDF Europe Chair

Read IDF Europe Chair Sehnaz karadeniz biography here

Original publication here

Joint paper - Towards an EU Strategic Framework for the Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs)

June 06 2019

With diabetes as one of the major chronic disease, we joined forces with the European Chronich Disease Alliance (ECDA), European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and Non Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCDA) and published a Joint Paper to advance firm action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by establishing an EU Strategic Framework for the Prevention of NCDs towards 2030. 

The paper sets out principles, priorities and actions to tackle the 21st century’s foremost health threat. In Europe, chronic diseases are responsible for over 85% of all deaths and affect nearly 1/4 of the working age population, which means €700 billion for treatment, annually and a loss of €115 billion/year due to premature mortality.

Thus, immediate EU action on chronic diseases could help save 2 million lives by 2025. The 2019-2024 term is an opportunity to act and address main risk factors, largely preventable.

"Disease prevention is a fundamental component of sustainable development, economic growth and a healthy society. As we are entering in a new clycle of EU political leadership, an EU Strategic Framework for NCD Prevention would guide and articulate existing and future initiatives in the field, while being an additional concrete example of the EU added value in health". - Prof. Em. Raymond Vanholder, President, European Chronic Disease Alliance.

Read the joint paper

IDF Europe is member of the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA).

Learn more on our partnerships at EU level, vital for our advocacy work, as they greatly contribute to our mission to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure.