What’s happening?
Today, Breakthrough T1D co-hosted an event with leading international diabetes organizations to discuss cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D)—where we are, challenges that remain, and how we can work together in Europe and beyond to address this need for the T1D community.
The focus of the event: Doing more for CVD and T1D
This event, titled “Type 1 Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease: From Data to Solutions,” took place today on November 14, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. Breakthrough T1D co-hosted this event in conjunction with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Europe and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). The goal was to bring together different stakeholders to address a critical concern: the lack of therapies for cardiovascular disease for people living with T1D.
The speakers at the event covered a range of topics. Jonathan Rosen, Ph.D., Director of Research at Breakthrough T1D spoke about the often-overlooked link between CVD and T1D. Others touched upon lessons we can learn from (T2D) diabetes and CVD, the gaps in evidence that still exist, new frontiers in CVD care for people living with autoimmune diseases, and the inclusion of T1D in CVD therapy development.
Attendees
From Breakthrough T1D:
- 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
- Alessandro Bisio, M.D., Director of Medical Affairs, International
Other attendees:
- Speakers from the European Medicines Agency
- Member of the European Parliament: Elena Nevado del Campo (EPP, Spain)
- People living with T1D
- Researchers
- Industry leaders
Why this matters
People living with T1D have a high risk of developing heart complications, despite advances in T1D care. At this time, there are only a few options available to lower this risk. In the United States and Europe, people with T1D have access to blood pressure medications and lipid-lowering medications (for example, statins) that can reduce the risk of developing CVD.
Other therapies, like the SLGT inhibitors empagliflozin or dapagliflozin, are the standard of care in the U.S. to treat heart failure in people without diabetes or with T2D. This class of drugs has revolutionized treatment and significantly reduced the rates of heart failure in these populations. However, people with T1D were excluded from these clinical trials—despite the fact that heart disease remains a critical concern for the T1D community. While not strictly approved, these drugs are occasionally prescribed off-label to reduce the risk of heart failure in people with T1D. Greater accessibility will require regulatory approval, and these options are not currently available for people living in Europe.
Despite the availability of some treatments that can reduce the risk of heart complications, there are no available cardioprotective therapies in the U.S. or Europe that can prevent CVD in people with T1D. More targeted, innovative therapies and treatment strategies are needed to further reduce the risk of—or ideally prevent altogether—cardiovascular complications in the T1D population.
There is a clear unmet need for the T1D community: the risk of CVD is high, and there are not enough options to treat or prevent it. That’s where events like these come in. They are a call to action for collaborative research efforts, better data integration, new and innovative ideas, and global cooperation towards a shared goal of better heart health for people living with T1D. The growing prioritization of CVD is evidenced by the European Commission’s cardiovascular health plan—which includes the Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes—showcasing how stakeholders in Europe are taking charge to accelerate breakthroughs for CVD and T1D.
What we’re saying
“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.”
Addressing the challenge of cardiovascular complications is a cornerstone of our Improving Lives strategy. Breakthrough T1D is actively supporting clinical trials for therapies that can reduce or prevent CVD in people with T1D, and we are working on identifying new projects and researchers to fund to further accelerate these efforts.
We are committed—on a global scale—to making sure people with T1D live the best lives possible, which includes having accessible therapies that reduce the risk of heart complications. Events like these bring together the right people that can make this happen in Europe and beyond.
