The Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs (DAWN) programme was launched in 2001 with the global DAWN study. Initiated by Novo Nordisk in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and an international expert advisory board, the DAWN programme aims to respond to shortcomings in diabetes care; less than half of the people who are diagnosed with diabetes worldwide reach optimal health and quality of life. The 3rd DAWN summit, which was held recently in Florence, Italy, gathered 900 experts, people with diabetes, policy-makers and professionals from 64 countries to set the stage for large-scale initiatives to improve treatment outcomes through patient-centred self-management and psychosocial support strategies.