There are about 60 million people with diabetes in Europe. Worldwide, high blood glucose kills about 3.4 million people every year, and the World Health Organisation projects that diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030. Although there is strong evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and the associated complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco, this evidence is not widely acted upon. Coordinated international and national policies are needed to reduce exposure to the known risk factors for diabetes and to improve access to and quality of care.

What is the EU’s strategy to counter the increasing number of diabetics?

Although according to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union the defining of health policies is the responsibility of the Member States, how does the Commission aim to encourage and support the adoption of effective measures for the surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and the associated complications?