The diabetes image: personal, professional, political, societal was the theme of the 12th annual FEND conference. By offering participants a varied programme of lectures, oral presentations, master-classes, posters and an exhibition, all views on the diabetes image were well resonated. This report features highlights of the conference, both for those who attended and for those who could not participate. By presenting unequivocal facts, Robert Heine classified the diabetes epidemic in The Netherlands - which is illustrative of similar situations in many other countries -as alarming. Three opportunities for coping with this burden on society and medicine (termed 'dia-besity') were addressed: aggressive therapy, early diagnosis, and prevention. Most attention was paid to prevention in terms of lifestyle adjustments, since Professor Heine expected most benefits to come from such changes. However, many challenges remain unfulfilled, such as acknowledging obesity as a public health issue and, rather than blaming individuals, improving and redesigning their living environment.
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