Diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are both global epidemics. They are currently among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly affecting populations in low- and middle-income populations. Their negative effects are accelerated by globalization, rapid unplanned urbanization and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

Taking Diabetes to Heart was a multi-country study, developed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in partnership with Novo Nordisk, focused on CVD awareness and knowledge among people living with type 2 diabetes. The study - the first of its kind in the world - built on the IDF global report on Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (2016), which includes recommendations to reduce the burden of CVD among people with diabetes and the general population. 

The aim of Taking Diabetes to Heart was to define the actions that are required to promote knowledge and awareness of cardiovascular disease among people living with type 2 diabetes, to improve their health outcomes and address systemic challenges to healthcare systems.

Taking Diabetes to Heart consisted of an online survey, available in multiple languages, targeted at people living with type 2 diabetes. The survey was open from September 2017 to May 2018. Download the FAQ.

Key results

*CVD risk factors, such as high blood pressure, uncontrolled blood glucose levels and high cholesterol; CVD events, such as angina, heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

What the results show

• People with type 2 diabetes underestimated their CVD risk, despite a high incidence of CVD events
• People with type 2 diabetes relied heavily on their HCPs for information and advice on CVD
• There appeared to be insufficient dialogue between some participants and their HCPs regarding CVD risk

The results from the survey will be used to inform policy and decision-making around this common and serious complication of diabetes.

Resources

• Taking Diabetes to Heart report (pdf, 6 MB)
• Taking Diabetes to Heart global and regional findings (pdf, 3 MB)

For more information about Taking Diabetes to Heart, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Interim results of Taking Diabetes to Heart were presented at the IDF Congress 2017 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Read more.

Supporters

The International Diabetes Federation is pleased to have received the support of the following organizations for the promotion of Taking Diabetes to Heart.

Organizations

• Associação de Diabetes Juvenil (Brazil)
• Dialeb - National Diabetes Organisation (Lebanon)
• Giro HC : associação de pessoas com diabetes do distrito de Viseu (Portugal)
• Nigeria Diabetes Online Community (NGDoc)
• Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes
• Texas Health

IDF Centres of Excellence in Diabetes Care

• ANAD - National Diabetes Attention Association, Sao Paulo - Brazil
• Arabic Association for the Study of Diabetes and Metabolism (AASD) – Egypt
• Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Pune, India
• Clinical Centre of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University-Sofia, Bulgaria
• Department of Diabetology, NMAPO – Ukraine
• Diabetes Center, Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases - Serbia
• Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Motol University Hospital - Czech Republic
• Diabetes Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
• Diabetcentro - Guatemala
• Diabetes Unit, Hospital Clínic i Universitari, Barcelona – Spain
• Dia Care (Diabetes Care & Hormone Clinic), Ahmedabad – India
• Dubai Diabetes Center, Dubai Health Authority - UAE
• Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital - Thailand
• Fundación Diabetes Juvenil del Ecuador (FDJE), Quito – Ecuador
• Hospital El Cruce, Florencio Varela, Argentina
• Jothydev's Diabetes Research Centre  (JDC), Trivandrum- India
• Leicester Diabetes Centre, University of Leicester, UK
• M.V. Hospital for Diabetes & Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre, Chennai -India
• National Center for Diabetes Research/ GUDEAS, Tbilisi - Georgia
• Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation, Inc. – Philippines
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Prince of Wales Hospital Diabetes Centre
• TOTALL Diabetes Hormone Institute, Indore, India
• University Clinic of endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Skopje - Macedonia