Diabetes is more than a chronic illness. It is a growing public health crisis that significantly contributes to premature mortality and disability in Ukraine — a situation exacerbated by the ongoing war.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 75% of diabetes-related healthcare costs are spent on treating complications that could have been prevented through early diagnosis and proper management. These findings were presented in the European Parliament during the 2025 EU Health Summit “Rethink Health in the EU.”
Against this background, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) and the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation (UDF) submitted a joint letter to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The letter calls for urgent measures to modernize diabetes care and prevention and to fulfill the goals of Ukraine’s Demographic Development Strategy until 2040, as adopted by the Government in November 2024.
Three urgent issues are highlighted:
Lack of a modern national strategy for diabetes control
Ukraine needs a unified policy aligned with European standards that focuses on early detection, prevention of complications, and access to effective care — especially for people with disabilities and those affected by the war.
Inaccessibility of diabetes self-management education
Today, most diabetes education schools in Ukraine are non-operational or absent. This leaves patients without vital knowledge and support needed to manage their condition effectively.
Limited access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices
Despite being a global standard of care, CGM devices remain mostly unavailable in Ukraine. The key barrier is the lack of proper certification, which prevents their legal use or inclusion in public reimbursement programs such as “Affordable Medicines.”
In their letter, NAPD and UDF ask the Ministry of Health to clarify:
- What is the current status of a modern national concept for diabetes control?
- What are the prospects for providing patients with continuous glucose monitoring devices?
- When will these devices be certified and included in the “Affordable Medicines” program?
NAPD and UDF emphasize: diabetes care is a matter of public policy, not only medicine. By investing in prevention, education, and modern tools, Ukraine can reduce disability, improve quality of life, and strengthen its healthcare system.
The letter is signed by:
Secretary General of NAPD Viktoriia Nazarenko
Chairperson of the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation Valentyna Ocheretenko
Read the full appeal
English 
Українська