The General Assembly is IDF's general guiding body. It normally meets every two years at the same time as the World Diabetes Congress, unless a special meeting is convened by the IDF President or the General Assembly itself.

The General Assembly determines the policies and activities of IDF and has the power to:

• admit and terminate the Members of IDF; 
• elect (from the potential candidates put forward by the Nominating Committee) and terminate the Board of Directors members ;
• approve the election of Regional Chairs and Regional Chairs-Elect;
• elect the Nominating Committee;
• approve the changes to the Articles of Association and to the Standard Operating Procedures;
• approve the budget and annual audited accounts;
• appoint and terminate the auditors;
• decide upon dissolution and liquidation of IDF.

The General Assembly is composed of the following persons, who are referred to as "Members of the General Assembly":

• the members of the Board of Directors (President, President-Elect, Vice-Presidents and Regional Chairs)
• Delegates of each Member

Observers, who have no voting rights, are invited to attend the General Assembly (for example, Honorary Presidents, Provisional Members or Committee Chairs).