ECR Shadow rapporteur Joanna Kopcińska welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution on preventing, managing and caring for diabetes adopted today.

Speaking in the plenary debate, Kopcińska said: “Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases, requiring daily self-care, that in some cases can lead to dangerous complications including retinopathy and cardio-vascular diseases. Within the European Union, we have over 33 million patients living with diabetes, and it is estimated that by the end of this decade, this number will grow, rising to 38 million.”

In the resolution, MEPs urge Member States to share best practices and data on diabetes prevention and treatment optimisation. In addition, the Parliament wants to see continued support for diabetes funding under the EU framework programmes for research, including research on the impact of new technologies on the diagnosis of diabetes, as well as self-management support and care.

Kopcińska commented:

“If we are to really act for the benefit of persons living with diabetes, we really need to act in synergy. Let us make optimum use of the existing resources, let us exchange best practises and epidemiological information, as well as information concerning the availability of treatment. These programmes combined with high level medical care, may lead to a situation where treatment is coherent based on the principal of safeguarding the patient.”

Today’s vote comes after the Parliament spent over a decade insisting that the Commission establish an EU Strategy for chronic non-communicable diseases. The Commission ultimately adopted its Healthier Together—EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative in June 2022, which includes diabetes as a priority strand.

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