Today, November 14, World Diabetes Day is observed, a condition that continues to grow and, according to figures from the International Diabetes Federation, by 2045 will affect one in eight adults worldwide, with Italy counting more than 4 million people living with it.
Today’s events renew the commitment of FeSDI, which brings together the diabetes-focused scientific societies SID and AMD, and the Parliamentary Intergroup on Obesity, Diabetes and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases, alongside Sport e Salute. They gathered at a conference held at the Circolo del Tennis del Foro Italico, centering on the role of sport as an ally in fighting this disease and, more broadly, chronic illnesses.
The Role of Sport
Institutions, scientific societies, people with diabetes, and the world of sport share a common objective that, on this day, takes on even greater significance: to combat the disease.
In this context, sport and physical activity play a central role. In fact, adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for the prevention and management of diabetes.
It is important to continue spreading a culture of sport in line with initiatives such as the “Manifesto on the Rights of People with Diabetes and the Duties of the Individual and the Community,” as well as with the memorandum of understanding for promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness about diabetes and obesity prevention in cities, signed by Sport e Salute SpA, FeSDI, and representatives of the Parliamentary Intergroups “Obesity, Diabetes and Non-Communicable Diseases” and “Quality of Life in Cities.”
«Diabetes has serious repercussions on the quality of life for those affected and their families, as well as a substantial impact on the country’s economy, with direct and indirect costs tied to lost productivity – explains Hon. Roberto Pella, president of the Parliamentary Intergroup on Obesity, Diabetes and Non-Communicable Diseases and Vice President of Anci. – As an Intergroup, we are deeply committed, not only to legislative action but to placing this issue at the center of the political agenda through a holistic, multisectoral approach aimed at guaranteeing people with diabetes the same rights as healthy individuals, fostering a broad alliance among all stakeholders and promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and prevention at all levels of government.
ISTAT Data on Sports Participation
On the occasion of the FeSDI-promoted event, in the roundtable organized by the Permanent Observatory on Sport, Exercise, and Motor Activity of the SportCity Foundation, ISTAT data on sport participation in Italy were presented.
The snapshot of the report presents a landscape with both bright spots and challenges.
- 21.5 million people played sport in Italy in 2024, representing 37.5 percent of the population aged 3 and up. Of these, 28.7 percent train regularly, and 8.7 percent do so occasionally.
- The 43.4 percent of men participate in sport compared to 31.8 percent of women, with a gender gap that was nearly 17 points in 1995 and has narrowed to 11.6 points in 2024.
- Regarding age, the highest uptake of sport is among 11–14-year-olds, at 75.6 percent (66.7 percent ongoing), with good participation up to 24 years, then a gradual decline.
- Sports participation is rising among older adults: among 65–74-year-olds, 23.3 percent are active (5.3 percent in 1995), and among those 75 and older, 8.1 percent (1.4 percent in 1995). Regionally, more sport is reported in the Northeast (43.9 percent), followed by the Northwest (41.7 percent) and the Center (41.5 percent), while the South and Islands lag behind (27.9 percent).
- Metropolitan areas are more active (42.7 percent), with smaller towns showing less sport activity (29.7 percent).
- Education level matters: only 6.1 percent with an elementary school diploma and 17.3 percent with a middle school diploma participate in sport, compared to 55 percent of college graduates.
«In Italy, 62.5 percent of the population does not engage in sport – explains Dr. Emanuela Bologna of ISTAT. Within this group, almost one third (29.7 percent) regularly engages in some form of physical activity, especially women, children up to 5 years old, and people over 64, while 32.8 percent are completely sedentary. Additionally, nearly four in ten have never practiced sport in their life (37.1 percent), more women than men (44.7 vs 29.1 percent). In the Mezzogiorno, nearly half are sedentary and less than a quarter engage in physical activity. The highest levels of sedentary behavior are in small towns up to 2,000 inhabitants (almost 4 in 10). The main reasons people don’t exercise in our country are lack of time (35.1 percent), lack of interest (31.2 percent), age (21.3 percent), health/disability (15.3 percent), fatigue/sloth (12.3 percent), and economic reasons (7.6 percent).
Marco Mezzaroma, president of Sport e Salute, states: «Moments like today demonstrate that there is a team of institutions and diverse entities ready, each in their own way, to develop strategies and actions to train our country for health. As Sport e Salute, we contribute every day across Italy, both because it is the role entrusted to us by the State and because we strongly believe in the social importance of this commitment».
«Regular physical activity is a pillar in the prevention and management of diabetes: it not only helps improve glycemic control, but enhances psychological well-being, quality of life, and social inclusion for people living with this condition – says Professor Raffaele Buzzetti, president of FeSDI and SID. – Sport is for everyone and must be an integral part of the care pathway, on par with medications and new technologies. Promoting physical activity means investing in public health and sustainability, because a more active citizen is also a healthier citizen.
«Institutions, scientific societies, and the world of sport must work together to make our cities and workplaces more conducive to daily movement and inclusion – says Professor Riccardo Candido, president of the AMD Foundation. – It is a necessary cultural shift that starts with information, moves through prevention, and culminates in the full participation of people with diabetes in social and professional life, highlighting sport as a tool for health, well-being, and active citizenship for all.
The Story of Anna and Giulio
Unfortunately, the relationship between sport and diabetes is still accompanied by a strong stigma.
In Italy, a 1932 Royal Decree discriminates against athletes with diabetes, preventing them from enlisting in state military branches and competing within sports groups.
The anachronistic decree fails to account for scientific progress and the current quality of diabetes care.
Anna Arnaudo, Italy’s track and field athlete, and Giulio Gaetani, an Italian épée fencer, have become spokespersons and ambassadors for this fight. Diabetes has not stopped two athletes from excelling on tracks and pistes around the world.
«When I learned that this diabetes clause prevented me from joining military sports groups, after an initial demoralization, I realized it was important to talk about this issue and find a solution – says Arnaudo. – The risk is that a wrong message gets sent: that a person with diabetes cannot practice sports. In reality, the opposite is true: physical activity is strongly recommended. We must send a message of hope so that people with diabetes, even those who do not aspire to become professional athletes, do not give up on participating in sports.»
Gaetani, who discovered he had diabetes at age two, adds: «I don’t necessarily remember life before diabetes, and perhaps that’s why I’ve always treated it as normal. Exclusion from the military sports groups prevents athletes like Anna and me from making our sport fully professional, because we don’t have a salary or essential support in choosing which events to target» explains Gaetani.
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