Rising to the challenge: Five takeaways from the International Meeting on type 1 diabetes

In a groundbreaking conference, international leaders in type 1 diabetes care exchanged knowledge, strategies, and visions for the future. Here are key takeaways from the discussions that are set to reshape type 1 diabetes (T1D) care and patient empowerment. 

While facing a rising tide of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), type 1 diabetes (T1D) represents a special challenge particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that bear a disproportionate share of the burden. 

T1D, a lifelong autoimmune disease that often starts in childhood, requires robust healthcare systems for patient monitoring.  

A call to action to address disparities in T1D care is now an urgent focus, led by organisations such as the World Health Organization and The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission, who aim to improve diabetes care globally. 

Fuelling this shift, the international meeting 'Type 1 diabetes: Advancing a global road map for improved and integrated care in low-resource settings' took place this February in Copenhagen. The meeting brought together more than 100 international leaders from diverse sectors to discuss and chart out solutions for the complexities of T1D care in LMICs. 

Co-hosted by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), the University of Geneva, the East African Diabetes Study Group, and the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy, the Meeting fostered strong links between local health systems and their global partners.  

The infusion of knowledge and commitments made at the Meeting pave the way for the '2025 Copenhagen Call to Action on T1D', suggesting a globally coordinated response to its challenges.