10 July 2025

On July 2, young people living with type 1 diabetes from IDF Europe’s YOURAH network took part in the Youth Policy Dialogue on Diabetes with Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Intergenerational Dialogue, Oliver Vàrhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare and MEP Peter Agius of the MMD group.

The event provided a unique platform for young advocates to share their lived experiences and discuss how EU policies can better support their physical and mental health, improve access to care and foster social inclusion.

Commissioner Micallef opened the Dialogue by emphasising the importance of creating supportive environments for young people with diabetes. He highlighted the crucial role of sport and physical activity in promoting health and preventing disease. He also stressed their positive impact on mental health, particularly for young people living with diabetes, underlining the need to support initiatives that encourage active and healthy lifestyles. He noted that people living with diabetes (PwD) are more likely to experience anxiety or depression and called for policies adopting a holistic approach to health.

Commissioner Vàrhelyi announced that diabetes will be a key focus in the forthcoming EU Plan on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), recognising its role as a major CVD risk factor. He also outlined ongoing EU initiatives, including the Life Sciences Strategy, the Biotech Act and the Critical Medicines Act, which aim to foster innovation, address medicine shortages and enhance access to new therapies. He stressed the importance of personalised, data-driven care and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to more equitable and responsive healthcare.

MEP Agius reflected on his encounters with PwD during his campaign in Malta, which highlighted the daily challenges they face. He underlined the EU’s role in supporting Member States (MS) through best practice sharing and legislation addressing disparities in access to care and technologies. He reiterated his commitment to keeping diabetes high on the SANT Committee agenda and praised young advocates for their vital contributions.

Throughout the Dialogue, YOURAH advocates shared the realities of living with a chronic condition, highlighting its emotional, social and economic impact. They called for improved access to diabetes technologies, greater support during key life transitions — such as moving to adult care — and stronger recognition of mental health needs. Many emphasised that current health systems are not designed with young people in mind and urged the EU to involve them actively in shaping policies that affect their lives. Discussions also covered the importance of education, the role of schools and sports coaches and the value of national patient organisations in providing peer support and empowering young people. Advocates stressed the need for greater equity across MS and for multidisciplinary, person-centred care.

This Dialogue reaffirmed that young people with lived experience are essential partners in building responsive, inclusive and future-proof health systems. Their contributions underscored the urgent need to:

• Embed youth participation in EU health policy design and implementation;
• Improve access to innovative and person-centred care across MS;
• Recognise the links between physical and mental health;
• Promote diabetes awareness and education in schools, sport and civil society;
• Ensure diabetes is integrated into all relevant EU health strategies, including the upcoming CVD Plan.

The MMD group welcomes the outcomes of this Dialogue and remains committed to amplifying the voices of young people living with diabetes across EU institutions and beyond.