New report - "DIABETES The Policy Puzzle: Is Europe Making Progress?"
19 Sept 2008
The International Diabetes Federation – European Region (IDF Europe) and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) are pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of their pan-European diabetes policy audit entitled: 'Diabetes - The Policy Puzzle: Is Europe Making Progress?’
Following the success of the first report carried out in 2005 ('Diabetes - The Policy Puzzle: Towards Benchmarking in the EU 25'), the second edition has been extended to cover the EU’s 27 member states plus an additional three countries – Croatia, Turkey and Kazakhstan. It also contains a special policy focus on high risk groups in these countries.
The 2008 report provides the latest evidence of the spiralling diabetes epidemic in Europe – now affecting over 31 million people in the EU - together with a comparative analysis of national diabetes policies and practices across Europe with a view to promoting best practice in the prevention, screening and management of the disease.
Based on the conclusions of this report, and the disappointing lack of progress made by countries since the last audit, IDF Europe and FEND continue to advocate for the need for EU policy action on diabetes.
Download the 2008
report (3.4MB)
First UN World Diabetes Day 14 November 2007
13 November 2007
November 14 mark the first United Nations-observed World Diabetes Day. The campaign was led by the International Diabetes Federation.
Over 200 landmark monuments around the world will light up in blue to mark the occasion. Included among them are many of the world's most iconic buildings and sites. The landmarks will light up the skyline in the blue colour of the diabetes circle, the global symbol for diabetes.
The London Eye and the Shell Tower (see photo) were lit in blue starting on Friday 9 November.
See more photos...
Online payment for conference available!
18 April 2007
FEND now offers the convenience of an online payment facility. At the moment it is only operational for conference registration payment but it is planned to also make it available for Membership fee payment soon.
FEND shows enthusiastic support for the 'Unite for Diabetes' campaign
22 September 2006
The 600 delegates at the 11th Annual Conference of the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes in Copenhagen, Denmark gave a standing ovation to keynote speaker Martin Silink after he presented the 'Unite for Diabetes' campaign and pledged their support via their national organisations.
Silink, President-elect of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the first person to have ever received this honour. The campaign for a UN Resolution on diabetes aims to raise global awareness of the global diabetes epidemic with the goal of United Nations recognition of the urgent need for multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health; development of national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes and designation of 14 November as World Diabetes Day to be observed officially by the United Nations beginning 2007.
FEND is a supporting organization of the campaign and is integral in promoting awareness not only among its membership, but throughout Europe. The 'Unite for Diabetes' campaign welcomes their support and looks forward to a successful end.
"Unite for diabetes" UN Resolution campaign
15 August 2006
FEND sends the following message of support to the campaign for a UN Resolution on diabetes:
“The Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) supports unreservedly this pertinent initiative of IDF in seeking to establish a UN Resolution on diabetes. FEND is proud to be a supporting organization to this campaign. The pandemic of diabetes with its costly economic and social implications demands of every nation and leader their support of IDF in bringing this campaign to a successful conclusion in the service of mankind.”
Read more at
UNR website 
EU Council Conclusions on promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention of type 2 diabetes
2733rd Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting, Luxembourg, 1-2 June 2006
Download this document
(256kB). 
International Diabetes Federation launches ‘Unite
for Diabetes’
campaign to win government support for UN Resolution
Brussels/Washington D.C., 10 June 2006
The ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign was launched by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in Washington today. The campaign aims to highlight the alarming rise of diabetes worldwide and to encourage government support for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes. IDF is leading the global diabetes community in a concerted effort to secure the Resolution on or around World Diabetes Day (November 14) 2007.
European Parliament declares need for urgent action on diabetes
Brussels, 19 April 2006
The European Parliament has adopted by an absolute majority a Written Declaration on Diabetes. The Declaration, tabled by John Bowis MEP together with his colleagues Georgs Andrejevs, Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele, urges the Commission and Council to prioritise diabetes in EU health policy, to encourage Member States to develop national diabetes plans and, crucially, calls on the Commission and Council to develop an EU diabetes strategy on the basis of an EU Council Recommendation on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and control. Having achieved an absolute majority (423 signatures in total), the European Parliament's Written Declaration will now be communicated to the European Commission and Council before the end of April.
The International Diabetes Federation - European Region (IDF Europe) and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) today welcomed the adoption of the Written Declaration by such a clear majority of MEPs. Such a high level of support for a Written Declaration is rare and highlights the acute awareness and the cross-party, cross-national consensus on the need for urgent action on the growing diabetes epidemic in Europe. It also comes at a time when Europe needs to demonstrate its relevance to citizens. Taking action to address a major cause of premature death, significant morbidity and reduced quality of life represents an important factor in building this public support across the European Union.
Diabetes is a leading cause of death in Europe - over 25 million people in the EU are affected by this chronic disease which can often lead to serious and costly complications such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation. Furthermore, 50 percent of people with diabetes are thought to be living with the condition unaware and undiagnosed. It is estimated that the number of people affected by diabetes could rise by up to 16 percent by 2025.
Dr. Michael Hall, Board Member of IDF Europe:
“It is a measure of the seriousness of the diabetes epidemic in Europe for this Declaration to have been adopted by such a convincing majority in the Parliament. It is only by preventing the contributory factors for the disease, detecting it early and then controlling it properly, that we can hope to halt the alarming increase in the prevalence of the condition and improve the lives of those who are already living with the disease. We now need immediate and decisive action in the form of an EU strategy to address the growing diabetes problem.”
Anne-Marie Felton, Chairman of FEND:
“It is significant that the European Parliament has spoken with such clarity and sensitivity, in concordance with people with diabetes, their health care professionals and EU citizens across Europe, as to the urgent need for constructive action. We hope that this will now be reflected in the response of both the Commission and Council in the very near future. We thank, in particular, MEPs John Bowis, Georgs Andrejevs, Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele for their commitment in securing such a significant majority.”
John Bowis MEP, Chair of the European Parliament's Diabetes Working Group, who lives with diabetes himself:
"The Austrian Presidency of the EU has given diabetes a great deal of attention since January but with the support of MEPs today, I hope this resolution will make all European Ministers and European Commissioners understand the seriousness of the epidemic."
IDF Europe and FEND welcome European Parliament Written Declaration on diabetes
London, 10/4/2006
The International Diabetes Federation European Region (IDF Europe) and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND), welcome this week’s adoption by the European Parliament of the Written Declaration on Diabetes. The Declaration, tabled by John Bowis MEP together with his colleagues Georgs Andrejevs, Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele MEP, was adopted by an absolute majority (415 signatures in total) and will be communicated to the European Commission and Council before the end of April.
This high level of support for such a Written Declaration is rare and highlights the acute awareness and need for urgent action on the growing diabetes epidemic in Europe. It also comes at a time when Europe needs to demonstrate its relevance to citizens, and action to address major causes of premature death, significant morbidity and reduced quality of life would be an important factor in building this public support across the European Union.
The Declaration urges Commission and Council to prioritise diabetes in EU health policy, to encourage Member States to develop national diabetes plans and, crucially, calls on the Commission and Council to develop an EU diabetes strategy on the basis of an EU Council Recommendation on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and control.
Michael Hall of IDF Europe:
“It is a measure of the seriousness of the diabetes epidemic for this declaration to have been adopted in Parliament. IDF welcomes the support of so many MEPs because it shows that diabetes must be made a priority on Europe’s health agenda. We now need immediate and decisive action to address the growing diabetes problem.
Only by preventing the contributory factors for the disease, detecting it early and then controlling it properly, can we hope to halt the alarming increase in the prevalence of the condition and improve the lives of those who are already living with the disease.”
Anne-Marie Felton of FEND:
“It is significant that the European Parliament has spoken with such clarity and sensitivity, in concordance with people with diabetes, their health care professionals and EU citizens across Europe, as to the urgent need for constructive action.
We hope that this will now be reflected in the response of both the Commission and Council in the very near future. We thank John Bowis MEP, Georgs Andrejevs, Dorette Corbey and Karin Scheele MEP for their commitment in securing such a significant majority.”
To obtain a copy of the Written Declaration, go to: www.europarl.eu.int/activities/expert/writtenDecl.do?language=EN&YEAR_VAL=2006
MEPs want diabetes taken more seriously
Strasbourg, 4/4/2006
European Parliament passes resolution demanding action
The European Parliament wants diabetes - which affects more than 25 million people in the EU - to become a priority in the EU's new health strategy. MEPs made the demand in a 'written declaration' (the equivalent of a Westminster 'Early Day Motion') which received the rare support of more than half the Parliament today. The declaration now becomes a formal resolution of the House and the Parliament's staff will forward the wishes of Parliamentarians to the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.
John Bowis MEP, Conservative health spokesman in the European Parliament, authored the declaration which also encourages EU member states to establish national diabetes plans and develop a strategy to encourage consumption and production of healthy food. Diabetes can lead to other costly and painful ailments such as kidney failure, amputations and blindness and the number of people affected by diabetes is set to rise by 16 percent by 2025.
Mr Bowis, who lives with diabetes himself, said:
"This resolution will mean diabetes is placed high up in Europe's health agenda. We need immediate and concrete steps to address the growing diabetes epidemic which can lead to serious and costly health implications such as heart disease, stroke and blindness.
Improved prevention, diagnosis and control of diabetes is key to limiting the alarming increase of the condition and improving the lives of those who have already been diagnosed.
The Austrian Presidency of the EU has given diabetes a great deal of attention since January but with the support of MEPs today, I hope this resolution will make all European Ministers and European Commissioners understand the seriousness of the epidemic."
For a copy of the Written Declaration, go to: www.europarl.eu.int/activities/expert/writtenDecl.do?language=EN&YEAR_VAL=2006
For more information, contact John
Bowis on +33 (0) 388 17 5780
or James Holtum on +32 473 211 174
Major New EU-Wide Audit Report on Diabetes Highlights Need for Urgent EU Action
Vienna, 17/2/2006
Results of a major, new audit of diabetes policies across all 25 EU Member States highlight the magnitude of the diabetes epidemic, the stark inequalities in diabetes policies across Europe, and the need for urgent action.
The report, "Diabetes - the Policy Puzzle: Towards Benchmarking in the EU 25", was presented today by the International Diabetes Federation European Region (IDF Europe) and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) at a press conference hosted by the Austrian Minister for Health and Women, Maria Rauch-Kallat.
(L-R)
Dr Michael Hall (IDFE)
Mrs Maria Rauch-Kallat (Commissioner)
Mrs Anne-Marie Felton (FEND)
Report
"The Policy Puzzle - Towards Benchmarking in the EU
25"
13/12/05
The International Diabetes Federation-European Region (IDF-Europe) and the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND), have joined forces to support this audit of diabetes across EU member states. It is presented as a contribution to EU politicians to the work of the Austrian Presidency in the first half of 2006 and beyond. The aim of this audit is to help establish a coherent EU strategy and policy that can provide a solution to the diabetes problem across the EU.
This report is intended to present a snapshot of the actual picture in 2005, easily digested, of the Type 2 diabetes situation in the EU, intended primarily to be a guide for future EU policy development. The undertaking of this inventory shows considerable variation in approaches taken by EU member states today, hoping that this will be used as a basis for a benchmarking process to follow in the near future.
Download a pdf file of this report.
10th Annual Conference Athens 2005
The attendance at the recent FEND 10th annual conference, held in Athens September 2005 was the highest ever - nearly 600 participants. A significant declaration was signed by the participants (see below).
FEND ATHENS DECLARATION
10 September 2005
The pandemic of Diabetes Mellitus presents a major public health challenge for all European national health care systems. It is estimated that 30 million European citizens have diabetes today within the European Union, with a prevalence of 7.5% in member states. In addition a further 50% of EU citizens are estimated to have this incurable condition but are currently unaware. This indicates a pernicious low level of awareness and demonstrates a serious and unacceptable deficiency in diagnosis of high risk groups and a paucity of national prevention public health policies within the EU.
Diabetes continues to be a leading cause of premature death, a 3-4 times higher risk of cardio-vascular disease, a 20 fold higher risk of lower limb amputation, the commonest cause of renal failure and blindness. In recent years the emergence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is a new and serious health challenge to the youth of Europe, their families and society. It is further estimated that pre-diabetes affects 100 million people of whom 50% will develop diabetes within the next 5 years.
The Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes is of the firm conviction that DG SANCO and the Commissioner have a unique responsibility to the citizens of Europe to establish in partnership with national ministries of health within member states and the relevant pan European NGOs, an EU Framework for the prevention and management of diabetes.
Such is the magnitude of the problem that micro plans are deemed inadequate to meet the challenge of the European diabetes epidemic and require a comprehensive European strategy in order to reduce the cost burden in terms of human suffering and economic loss.
The imperative to establish EU leadership, true connectiveness and relevance with it's citizens is an opportunity that must be grasped urgently with generosity and sensitivity in partnership with key stakeholders.
We the undersigned urge the political leaders of the EU, members of the European parliament, national members of Parliament and Ministries of Health to respond positively and in a timely fashion to this urgent request.