Diabetes Awareness for WDD at the European Parliament

On the 10-11 November, The International Diabetes Federation European Region (IDF EUR) and MEP Simon Busuttil hosted diabetes awareness events in the European Parliament to mark the build up to World Diabetes Day. The sucessful events were held in collaboration with the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND), the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), and Primary Care Diabetes Europe (PCDE) and the Alliance for European Diabetes Research (EURADIA).

On Tuesday, 10 November, a special re-launch of the EU Diabetes Working Group took place under the leadership of MEP co-chairs Simon Busuttil (Malta), Sarah Ludford (UK), and Marisa Matias (Portugal). The program featured presentations from Chris Delicata, President of IDF Europe, Anne-Marie Felton, IDF Vice-President and President of FEND, and Professor Philippe Halban, Chair of EURADIA.

Guest speakers at the event provided insight into what it is like to live with diabetes from the healthcare-professional perspective and from people living with the disease.

On both days, MEPs and Parliament staff were invited to drop by the exhibition station to receive a free blood glucose screening, gather informational materials, and speak with diabetes representatives from throughout Europe.

Close to 300 individuals were tested, including Mr Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, who came to the exhibition on Tuesday to participate in the testing and to show his support for World Diabetes Day. Watch a short video of President Buzek being tested.