[Colloque de la FFD pour la Journée Mondiale du Diabète]

The French Diabetics Federation organized its annual conference on November 7, 2024, the flagship event of World Diabetes Day. The discussions of this day marked an important step in recognizing gender differences as a lever for more equitable access to care for all.

This year, the theme, Diabetes for women, diabetes for men, encouraged discussions around the specific issues posed by diabetes in men and women.

World Diabetes Day: an essential moment to raise awareness

World Diabetes Day, celebrated each year in November, is a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the issues surrounding diabetes and the risks of complications. By organizing a national conference on this date, the Federation places the voice of patients at the heart of the discussions, to better understand the needs of each person.

For the 2024 edition, the chosen theme, Diabetes in women, diabetes in men, allowed us to question the medical, social and life differences between men and women with diabetes. During the round tables, speakers addressed the question of the impact of gender on good patient care.

A look back at the highlights of the morning

Jean-François Thébaut, vice-president of the Federation, in charge of advocacy and external affairs, opened this conference by recalling the importance of recognizing the specificities linked to gender in the field of health and for people affected by diabetes in particular. Geneviève Darrieussecq, Minister of Health and Access to Care, sent us a video message, in which she recalls the importance of diabetes prevention. The Minister insisted on the essential role of patient associations, such as the Federation and its Federated Associations.

We then had the pleasure of welcoming Belkhir Belhaddad, MP for Moselle: engaged in a sporting challenge, he linked Metz, his hometown, to the Ministry of Health in Paris by bike. His goal? Raise awareness among the French about the benefits of physical activity, and urge public authorities to publish decrees on testing adapted physical activity (APA) and dietetics for patients living with diabetes type 2. These provisions were the subject of an article voted in the social security financing law (LFSS) in 2021. While four years have passed, these implementing decrees are still not implemented today. published. The Deputy received assurances that they would be published soon, and was able to consult them.

Subsequently, Sandrine Fosse, coordinator of the diabetes surveillance program at Public Health France, presented precise data on diabetes and their specificities according to gender. Based on the most recent epidemiological analyses, it exposed the marked disparities between men and women, whether in terms of risk factors, prevalence of the disease or associated complications.

During the first roundtable, entitled Risk factors and gender: understanding the differences, speakers shared data on the distinct predispositions between men and women towards diabetes. This time for discussion made it possible to better understand the disparities in risk factors and access to care between genders.

The second round table, Diabetes and women’s health: anticipate, understand, act, explored the specificities of women in the care and complications associated with diabetes. The speakers highlighted the importance of considering the needs of women at each stage of care and identifying avenues for appropriate prevention, particularly cardiovascular risks. Subjects that are still too little known, such as the impact of the hormonal cycle on diabetes or that of the period of conception of a baby, were discussed.

The Federation’s commitment to differentiated care

The French Diabetics Federation is committed to continuing its efforts to promote diabetes care adapted to gender specificities. During the conference, Philippe Raclet, vice-president of the Federation, in charge of running the network, presented the actions taken to strengthen this dimension in the actions of local Federated Associations. As part of its missions, the Federation will continue to inform patients, relatives and health professionals about the gender differences in diabetes, thanks to the support actions carried out by its Headquarters and the support actions carried out by the Federated Associations at throughout the French territory.

Closing of the conference and perspectives

Unable to be present in person, Yannick Neuder, deputy and general rapporteur of the social security financing bill, also sent us a video testimony, in which he particularly insisted on cardiovascular risk factors, being him -same cardiologist by training.

Closing the event, Jacky Vollet, president of the French Diabetics Federation, recalled that to respond to the challenges raised by these differences, it is essential to evolve health policies towards more equitable care.

We renew our thanks to all the speakers as well as to all the people who made it a success!

Thank you also to all the participants, partners, volunteers and donors of the Federation.
To find out about the other actions of the Federation organized on the occasion of World Diabetes Day (more than 100 local events are organized!), go to this page.

Also note in your diary the date of our second webinar organized for World Diabetes Day, on the theme The impact of diabetes on the daily lives and mental health of men and women, next Thursday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m.

To attend this conference, all you need to do is log in on the day on our Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn pages. You will be able to ask your questions live and interact with our experts and witnesses.