Five international meetings, two European cities and a shared commitment to improving the management of type 2 diabetes through scientific exchange and multidisciplinary collaboration.
With the conclusion of the fifth edition of Type 2 Diabetes in Internal Medicine Practice – Experience Sharings, held in Riga on 26–27 September 2026, CoEHAR at the University of Catania and DAHUDER, the Turkish Internal Medicine Specialists Association, mark an important milestone in a scientific initiative that has brought together researchers and clinicians from different countries.
Launched in Catania in May 2025, the series has progressively developed into a recurring international forum for discussing clinical challenges, emerging evidence and innovative approaches to diabetes care, while strengthening scientific cooperation between the participating institutions.
A growing international scientific network
The first two editions, hosted in Catania in May and October 2025, laid the foundations for a collaborative approach centred on the exchange of clinical experience, scientific evidence and practical solutions to complex cases.
The initiative subsequently expanded to Riga, Latvia, where the third and fourth editions took place in June 2026, followed by the fifth meeting in September.
Across the five editions, the scientific programmes have addressed a broad spectrum of topics, including diabetes pathophysiology, personalized medicine, innovative glucose-lowering therapies, cardiovascular protection, metabolic complications and the management of patients with multiple risk factors.
Interactive case discussions and exchanges between specialists have remained central to the Experience Sharings format, connecting scientific advances with the challenges encountered in everyday clinical practice.
For CoEHAR, the initiative represents a concrete example of scientific internationalization: an opportunity to strengthen relationships with international medical communities, encourage multidisciplinary dialogue and bring its research perspectives into broader discussions on chronic disease prevention and management.
A multidisciplinary contribution from CoEHAR and the University of Catania
The five editions have involved a broad group of researchers and clinicians, highlighting the contribution of CoEHAR and the University of Catania to an international scientific programme extending well beyond a single discipline.
CoEHAR contributors included Prof. Riccardo Polosa, Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, Prof. Lucia Frittitta, Prof. Sandro La Vignera, Prof. Pasquale Caponnetto, Prof. Nino Di Pino, Prof. Davide Campagna and Dr. Rossella Cannarella. Additional contributions from the University of Catania included Dr. Carlo Bellanca and Dr. Walter Currenti, while external clinical experts included Dr. Domenico Arcoria, Dr. Lorenzo Arcoria and Dr. Roberto Curto.
Their collective expertise spans internal medicine, diabetology, endocrinology, metabolic and cardiovascular health, smoking cessation, tobacco harm reduction and emerging therapeutic approaches. This multidisciplinary participation reflects CoEHAR’s ability to contribute to scientific dialogue across specialties, connecting its core expertise in harm reduction with wider areas of clinical research and patient care.
Bringing smoking cessation and harm reduction into diabetes care
A distinctive aspect of CoEHAR’s contribution has been its focus on the relationship between smoking, metabolic health and chronic disease management.
Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for people living with diabetes, increasing cardiovascular risk and complicating long-term disease management. Smoking cessation therefore remains an essential component of comprehensive diabetes care.
Throughout the series, CoEHAR researchers have contributed to discussions on personalized smoking cessation strategies, tobacco harm reduction, metabolic dysfunction and the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on health. These topics have been explored alongside developments in pharmacological treatment, cardiovascular protection and personalized medicine, reinforcing the importance of addressing patients’ multiple risk factors through an integrated clinical approach. The scientific programme of the fifth edition further examined metabolic and nutritional changes following smoking cessation, demonstrating the relevance of this discussion to everyday diabetes management.
By bringing these perspectives into an international forum primarily dedicated to diabetes, CoEHAR has helped broaden the scientific conversation on prevention and risk reduction in chronic disease care.
Beyond five meetings: the value of sustained international cooperation
The significance of the CoEHAR–DAHUDER initiative lies not only in the number of meetings organized, but also in the continuity of the scientific exchange developed across successive editions. From Catania to Riga, the series has provided opportunities for researchers and clinicians to share different perspectives, discuss evolving evidence and strengthen professional relationships across national and disciplinary boundaries.
For CoEHAR, this experience is consistent with its broader mission of promoting international scientific cooperation, interdisciplinary research and evidence-based approaches to reducing preventable health risks. The completion of five editions offers an opportunity to reflect on the value of this collaboration and the potential for further scientific exchanges, becoming a continuing platform for dialogue between scientific communities, and sustained cooperation in research, clinical experience and prevention in the management of complex chronic diseases.
