European Parliament calls for EU diabetes strategy
To target prevention, diagnosis, management, education and research
The European Parliament has approved a resolution that calls for a dedicated strategy to tackle the growing diabetes problem.
According to MEPs, the strategy is essential to improve research cooperation and focus on prevention and early diagnosis. They note that many EU countries do not have a national diabetes programme.
The strategy should target diabetes prevention, diagnosis, management, education and research that complements the efforts of EU countries, MEPs say.
Diabetes is estimated to affect more than 32 million EU citizens, and there are another 32 million people with impaired glucose tolerance, which has a high probability of progressing to clinically manifest diabetes. Moreover, up to 50% of all people with diabetes are currently unaware of their condition.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common and is a preventable disease. MEPs say the EU and member states should use environmental, food and consumer policies to tackle known risk factors such as obesity. EU countries should also ensure adequate education on healthy eating and physical exercise in schools.
Diabetes is frequently diagnosed too late, which can have serious health consequences and MEPs want member states to make early diagnosis a priority in their national programmes. There should also be continued funding for diabetes research through EU research framework programmes.
The MEPs say the Commission should draw up standardised criteria and methods for data collection and there should be broader efforts to join up research.
The number of people living with diabetes in Europe is expected to increase by 16.6% by 2030, as a result of obesity, an ageing European population and other factors.
More than 300,000 deaths a year are attributed to diabetes in the EU, and in most European countries, diabetes accounts for more than 10% of healthcare expenditure.
