Public should know

Hello, I’m Lazar Begović from Serbia. I come from Bor, a small town in eastern Serbia. After I was diagnosed with diabetes, I felt isolated—but that changed when I attended my first diabetes camp organised by the Diabetes Association of Serbia. That warm sense of belonging inspired me to help others feel the same way.

Since then, I’ve taken part in numerous diabetes advocacy initiatives across Serbia. I founded DYouth, a platform where people with diabetes can safely share their stories.

I also help organise the Young Leaders in Diabetes programme in Serbia, offering education and support to adolescents with diabetes and encouraging them to become changemakers. Through social media efforts with the Diabetes Association of Serbia, I work to reach people in Serbia and neighbouring countries—educating people living with diabetes, as well as their families and friends—so that nobody feels limited by their condition.

In Serbia, an estimated 718,500 adults are living with diabetes, of whom 33.5%—around 240,000 people—are undiagnosed. Around 2,250 children and adolescents live with type 1 diabetes.

These figures underscore the importance of what I do—peer connection, early diagnosis, and advocacy. By building communities, sharing knowledge, and amplifying voices, we can empower young people in Serbia to live freely and confidently with diabetes.