Tackling diabetes – how Slovenia developed its second 10-year programme on diabetes, and its new approach: NCD stories from the field: updated November 2023

Overview

Slovenia, like many other European countries, has an ageing population with a high burden of chronic diseases. It also has significant health inequalities, rising public expectations of health services fuelled by technological advances, and financial constraints that make it necessary to use resources more efficiently.In 2022 it was estimated that around 145 000 people in Slovenia have diabetes,with around 10 000 new cases every year. Cases of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents have stabilized in recent years, but the number of people with, or with risk factors for, type 2 diabetes, is rising. A recent national study identified the characteristics of people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Three quarters of patients with diabetes are over 60 years and have a body mass index of over 30.