Diabetes care in Europe represents a hallmark of choice for access, quality and affordability largely due to universal healthcare systems. These systems give citizens access to essential services such as routine screenings, diabetes prevention strategies, and access to treatment and supplies. Additionally, through research collaboration and open science initiatives, Europe has yielded advancements in diabetes treatment and prevention.
Europe’s history, culture, lifestyles, and societies differ from those in other regions, while distinct historical events, cultural developments and societal values shape the modern continent. EU and non-EU countries have cultural, historical and geographical ties and frequently cooperate on security, environmental protection and scientific research, with some non-EU countries participating in EU programmes.
Through research collaboration and open science initiatives, Europe has yielded advancements in diabetes care, treatment and prevention.
Access to quality and affordable diabetes care, early diagnosis and diabetes prevention can vary significantly between Europe and other regions. Several factors contribute to these differences, including healthcare infrastructure, economic conditions, government policies and public health initiatives.
While the vast majority of the 59 countries in the Europe region provide universal health coverage, there are differences in the extent and effectiveness of the coverage. Most EU member states and other European developed nations have robust, well-funded healthcare systems. High-income countries in Europe tend to have well-established healthcare infrastructure for managing diabetes, including specialised diabetes clinics and well-trained healthcare providers. In contrast, some Eastern European and Central Asian countries may have more limited access or face challenges in delivering comprehensive services.
When we look at the global picture, North America — particularly the US and Canada—and Western Europe have comprehensive diabetes prevention and early screening programmes. Globally, the five top diabetes screening programmes are in European countries — Finland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands. These programmes focus on early detection of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes for timely interventions. Furthermore, many Western European countries, including the UK, Germany and France, have national diabetes prevention initiatives and organised screening for at-risk populations, such as those with obesity or a family history of diabetes.
These initiatives were set up to combat the rising prevalence of diabetes in many European countries. Estimates released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021 indicate that Türkiye, the Russian Federation, Germany, Spain and Italy have the highest number of people with diabetes, where risk factors like high rates of obesity and physical inactivity contribute to the increasing prevalence of the condition.
Many Western European countries have national diabetes prevention initiatives and organised screening for at-risk populations, such as those with obesity or a family history of diabetes.
Making progress in diabetes prevention
According to IDF estimates, the number of people with diabetes in the European region will increase by 13% by 2045, the lowest rate of the seven IDF regions. Two factors contributing to this increase are obesity, as a result of urbanisation and sedentary lifestyles, and an ageing population. In the face of the rising diabetes burden, Europe has made notable progress in diabetes prevention, especially in higher-income countries.
The region’s economic stability, health-conscious populations and preventive healthcare policies, such as sugar taxes and food labelling, all support lower rates of type 2 diabetes. Healthy eating and regular physical activity are concrete measures to prevent or delay diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity.
Although cuisine varies across Europe, healthy nutrition is often a way of life in many countries and is taking hold in others. Balanced meals are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins that help regulate blood glucose levels and maintain a healthy weight.
The region is home to the Mediterranean Diet, which is considered one of the best diets for diabetes management and heart health. Food groups favour plant-based foods, nuts, and healthy fats while limiting red meat, sugar, and saturated fat intake. Its long-established benefits offer a sustainable approach to weight management and better glucose regulation.
The concept of “leisure” and quality of life is found in many European societies. Europeans highly value work-life balance, and benefit from generous holiday time and fewer work hours than regions like the US and Asia. Additionally, public transportation is often well-developed in European cities making physical activity a fabric of life, with widespread bicycle use in countries like the Netherlands, Denmark and France.
According to IDF estimates, the number of people with diabetes in the European region is estimated to increase by 13% by 2045, the lowest rate of the seven IDF regions.
Cooperation in research and development
As a region, synergies of core public funding, private sector partnerships and cross-border collaboration have resulted in life-changing research outcomes. EU initiatives like Horizon Europe and national research bodies open resources to scientists, enabling them to push the boundaries of diabetes understanding and management.
Organisations like the European Association for the Study of Diabetes and EU-funded initiatives enable large-scale studies and knowledge sharing. The EU’s open science policy promotes accessible, transparent and reproducible scientific research and encourages sharing data, methods and findings with the public and the scientific community to foster collaboration and innovation. Collaborative networks that include clinical trials and translational research ensure that laboratory discoveries are applied in diabetes prevention and personalised treatment strategies.
Over the past twenty years, the growth in diabetes technology, such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), insulin pumps and closed loop technologies, has revolutionised diabetes management. Europe has often been at the forefront of this technology with research hubs in the UK, Sweden, and Germany pioneering closed-loop systems that automate insulin delivery.
At the same time, European laboratories continue to refine pharmacological treatments such as GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors, improving outcomes for people with diabetes worldwide.
Collaborative networks that include clinical trials and translational research ensure that laboratory discoveries are applied in diabetes prevention and personalised treatment strategies.
Researchers are also making headway in understanding how genetics and environmental factors increase a person’s risk of diabetes. Leading institutions such as Oxford University and Sweden’s Karolinska Institute are conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic markers that increase susceptibility to diabetes. These findings help shape early detection strategies and improve prevention efforts. European scientists are also exploring the role of epigenetics—how lifestyle and environmental factors influence gene expression—potentially unlocking new therapeutic approaches.
Europe has the highest number of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes —295,000 — as well as the highest incidence with 31,000 new cases annually. While the exact cause or causes are unknown, some factors that could contribute to these figures are genetics, environment as well as better diagnosis and treatment plans.
Recent European research has explored innovative approaches to treating type 1 diabetes by developing insulin-producing cells through genetic modification and direct reprogramming. Additionally, genetically modified islet cells being tested in a clinical study at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden could lead to curative cell therapy for type 1 diabetes. These studies are a step toward developing treatments that could reduce or eliminate the need for regular insulin use in type 1 diabetes treatment plans.
Europe has the highest number of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the highest annual incidence of the condition.
As a diverse, inclusive network of 72 national diabetes organisations across 45 European countries, the IDF European Region advocates for people living with diabetes and healthcare professionals to improve diabetes prevention, management and care. On 28 November 2024, IDF Europe and WHO Europe signed a declaration, Accelerating Action on Commitments to improve Diabetes Detection and Quality of Care, to hasten efforts for improved diabetes detection and quality of care. Since then, they have mobilised diabetes advocates and organisations to endorse this declaration, urging policymakers to take firmer action to improve the well-being of people with diabetes and prevent diabetes in those at risk.
Although factors like increasing obesity rates and an ageing population exist, the emphasis on prevention, early detection and promoting healthier lifestyles has slowed the increase of diabetes in the region. A successful combination of healthy nutrition, regular physical activity and innovative technologies has further enhanced diabetes management and prevention. By continuing to prioritise diabetes care and advocacy, good practices in Europe can be adapted in other regions to combat the diabetes burden.
