The Finnish Diabetes Association: 70 Years of Improving the Status of People with Diabetes
The Finnish Diabetes Association celebrated its 70th anniversary on May 22, 2025. The Association’s legacy is a clear reflection of dedication, collaboration, volunteer work, and continuous development. A seminar held on the anniversary brought the diabetes community together.
The Minister of Social Security, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who delivered the government’s greeting to the event, stated that public health work in Finland is deeply rooted in a strong tradition.
– The long history of the Finnish Diabetes Association is a witness of perseverance, expertise, and a deep commitment to the well-being of the population. The Association has been a cornerstone of Finnish public health. It has provided information, support, and security to people with diabetes—and has done so in a way that combines professionalism with compassion, Minister Grahn-Laasonen said.
Director and Associate Professor Hanna Tolonen from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) thanked the Finnish Diabetes Association for long-standing cooperation. She expressed the hope that this cooperation would continue as fruitfully as it has thus far. The THL plays a central role in promoting health and well-being of the population.
– Preventing diabetes is not the sole responsibility of the individual—it’s a responsibility shared by the whole community. This is precisely where THL and the Finnish Diabetes Association have worked together for many years. Our collaboration is deeply rooted in research and application of the fruits of research in practice, Tolonen noted.
The collaboration of THL and the Finnish Diabetes Association has produced, for example, a national diabetes quality registry and, through EU-funded projects, tools for diabetes prevention. A risk assessment test for common public health diseases, unique for European conditions, was published in May 2025.
The roots of the Finnish Diabetes Association go back to 1955, when the “Association for People with Sugar Disease” was established in Finland. Local diabetes associations had been founded earlier, and as their number increased, the need for a national advocacy organization for people with diabetes led to the establishment of a national coordinating body, the Finnish Diabetes Association.
In the 1970s, coinciding with the state’s involvement in advancing diabetes care in Finland, the status of the Finnish Diabetes Association was recognized and it assumed a distinct role. Since the 1980s, the Finnish Diabetes Association has also been an active contributor to scientific efforts in the international collaborative arena.
The 70th anniversary of the Finnish Diabetes Association is being celebrated with a variety of events that will offer ample opportunities to connect and network across Finland throughout the year.
The 70th Anniversary Jubilee Seminar of the Finnish Diabetes Association(avautuu uuteen ikkunaan, siirryt toiseen palveluun) (recording with subtitles available in Swedish and English).
On its 70th anniversary, the Finnish Diabetes Association is directing donations to support youth coping with diabetes care fatigue. Since every young person should have access to support and information for living with diabetes, the funds raised will be dedicated to developing support services tailored to the needs of young people.
You can donate in many ways — see the Finnish instructions here(avautuu uuteen ikkunaan)