Heart Disease and Type 1 Diabetes: Pushing for Game-Changing Solutions Across Europe and the World
Imagine this: You're managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) every single day, and on top of that, you're at a much higher risk of developing serious heart complications. It's a tough reality for countless people, and it's exactly why we need to talk about the urgent breakthroughs happening right now. But here's where it gets controversial: Despite all the progress in diabetes care, heart disease remains a silent killer for those with T1D, and many life-saving treatments are just out of reach. Stick around, because this is the part most people miss – the collaborative push to change that.
What's Going On?
Recently, Breakthrough T1D teamed up with prominent global diabetes groups to host a pivotal discussion on cardiovascular disease (CVD) – that's heart-related issues like heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure – and its connection to type 1 diabetes. For beginners, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own insulin-producing cells, requiring lifelong insulin management to control blood sugar. Cardiovascular disease, on the other hand, involves problems with the heart and blood vessels, and it's alarmingly prevalent in T1D patients. Check out Breakthrough T1D's resources on this at https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-resources/complications/cardiovascular-disease/ to dive deeper.
The event spotlighted our current progress, the hurdles we still face, and the teamwork needed across Europe and globally to better serve the T1D community. It's all about turning challenges into actionable steps forward.
The Heart of the Event: Tackling CVD and T1D Head-On
This gathering, called “Type 1 Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease: From Data to Solutions,” happened on November 14, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. Breakthrough T1D organized it alongside the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe (https://idf.org/europe/) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) (https://www.ispad.org/). The main aim? To unite various experts and tackle a pressing problem: the scarcity of effective treatments for CVD in people with T1D.
Speakers delved into fascinating topics. Jonathan Rosen, Ph.D., Breakthrough T1D's Director of Research, highlighted the often-ignored link between CVD and T1D. For example, someone with T1D might not realize that their condition makes them more susceptible to plaque buildup in arteries, leading to heart problems. Others shared insights from type 2 diabetes (T2D) – where the body doesn't use insulin well, often due to lifestyle factors – and its CVD connections, pointing out gaps in research for T1D. They also explored cutting-edge advancements in heart care for autoimmune disorders and why T1D needs to be included in developing new CVD therapies. Imagine, for instance, how newer drugs could specifically target the unique inflammation in T1D that worsens heart risks.
Who Joined the Conversation?
From Breakthrough T1D, key figures included:
- Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer
- Jonathan Rosen, Ph.D., Director of Research
- Carmen Hurtado del Pozo, Director of European Research
- Hilda Ahnstedt, Program Officer of European Research
Others in attendance were:
- Experts from the European Medicines Agency (the body that regulates medicines in Europe)
- Elena Nevado del Campo, a Member of the European Parliament from Spain (representing the European People's Party)
- Individuals living with T1D, bringing personal stories and insights
- Researchers pushing scientific boundaries
- Industry leaders from pharmaceutical companies with potential solutions
Why Does This Really Matter?
People with T1D face a significantly elevated chance of heart-related issues, even with today's diabetes management tools. To put it simply, despite better blood sugar control, the risk of CVD lingers like a shadow. In the U.S. and Europe, options are limited but include blood pressure meds and lipid-lowering drugs like statins, which help reduce cholesterol and lower CVD risk. Think of statins as helpers that clear "bad" cholesterol from your arteries, much like unclogging a drain to prevent blockages.
Then there are SGLT2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin or dapagliflozin – these are standard for treating heart failure in non-diabetics or those with T2D. They've been revolutionary, slashing heart failure rates by improving kidney and heart function, almost like giving the body a reset button. But here's the controversy that sparks debate: People with T1D were often excluded from the clinical trials for these drugs, even though heart disease is a major threat to their community. As a result, while these medications aren't officially approved for T1D, doctors sometimes prescribe them off-label to help reduce heart failure risk. However, in Europe, they're not readily available yet, underscoring the need for regulatory green lights.
The big picture? While we have some tools to lower heart complication risks, there simply aren't any tailored cardioprotective therapies in the U.S. or Europe designed to prevent CVD outright in T1D patients. We need more creative, targeted treatments – perhaps ones that address the autoimmune aspects unique to T1D, like reducing inflammation that accelerates heart damage. Events like this are a rallying cry for joint research, smarter data sharing, fresh innovations, and worldwide teamwork to improve heart health for everyone with T1D.
Look at the European Commission's cardiovascular health plan (https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cardiovascular-health_en), which includes joint actions on CVD and diabetes. It shows how European players are stepping up to fast-track breakthroughs, proving that collective effort can make a difference.
Our Take on It
As Carmen Hurtado del Pozo, Director of European Research at Breakthrough T1D, puts it: “Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for people with type 1 diabetes, yet targeted therapies and guidelines are still lacking. In collaboration with IDF Europe, ISPAD, and aligned with the European Commission’s cardiovascular plan, this event brings together researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, regulators, and industry partners to drive collaborative solutions and accelerate progress toward better prevention and treatment strategies.”
Tackling CVD complications is central to our Improving Lives strategy (https://www.breakthrought1d.org/explore-research/improving-lives/). Breakthrough T1D is backing clinical trials for treatments that could cut or stop CVD in its tracks for T1D patients, and we're scouting new projects and talented researchers to fund. We're dedicated globally to ensuring those with T1D can live fully, with easy access to therapies that shield against heart issues. Gatherings like this connect the right minds to make it happen, not just in Europe but everywhere.
What do you think? Should drug trials always include T1D participants, or is there a valid reason for exclusions? Do you believe off-label prescriptions bridge the gap ethically, or do they create unfair risks? Share your views or any personal experiences in the comments – we'd love to hear differing opinions and keep the conversation going!
Written by: Sandy Vogt, Ph.D.
