Wake-up call to Europe on diabetes epidemic (Enfield Liberal Democrats)

Enfield Liberal Democrats <info@enfieldlibdems.org.uk>

Wake-up call to Europe on diabetes epidemic

June 7, 2010 3:29 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

Sarah Ludford MEP with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (centre) and her fellow MEP co-chairs of the Parliament's diabetes working group Simon Busuttil (left) and Marisa Matias (right), all about to have their blood glucose level tested.

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Sarah Ludford is hosting a discussion meeting in the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday 8th June 2010 intended as a wake-up call to Europe about the need for focussed research to stop the diabetes epidemic and work towards a cure for this chronic debilitating and killer disease.

The meeting is entitled 'Diabetes research in the 21st-century: where is Europe?' The key presentation will be by the chair of diabetes research alliance EURADIA, Professor Philippe Halban, on the results of the EU-funded 'Diamap' project produced by an eminent group of European scientists to produce a 'roadmap' for European research, the first in any disease area. Also speaking will be Patricia Reilly from the cabinet of EU Research Commissioner Máire Geoghan-Quinn.

Ahead of the event Sarah said:

"Diabetes is a health emergency, one of the major challenges of the 21st century. The alarming rise in incidence of both Type 1 and Type 2 - soon one European in 10 will be diabetic - justifies the description 'epidemic'. But support for diabetes in Europe differs widely and research has been uncoordinated and underfunded."

"DIAMAP indeed shows that Europe has been lagging behind much of the rest of the world but in particular US, Australia and Canada, on research into a disease that many now believe can be cured. That prize is of great value to all countries' health budgets, but it will only be achieved by pan-European coordination of research agendas and boosted finance, with a joint strategy not only of care but of prevention and cure. There is also surely scope for fruitful transatlantic cooperation."

"We need a gear-change in Europe in the next couple of years, to match international awareness that the diabetes crisis needs an urgent and major response before it is too late."

Because of a family interest, Sarah has been active on the issue of diabetes care and prevention for many years and is now one of the co-chairs of the European Union Diabetes Working Group, a collaboration between MEPs and a network of diabetes organisations grouped in the European Coalition for Diabetes.

ENDS

Note to Editors

The meeting, entitled 'Diabetes research in the 21st-century: where is Europe?' will be held on Tuesday 8 June 2010 from 12:30 to 14:00 in the European Parliament in Brussels, room PHS 4B001. A European Parliament access badge is required.