On 12 December 2025, the La Caballería Social Centre in Soto de Ribera hosted the closing event of the C4D intervention programme in Asturias, an innovative initiative to address type 2 diabetes that had been implemented across the region since 2024.
Since January 2024, 95 people undergoing treatment for type 2 diabetes have taken part in the six groups formed in Asturias: three face-to-face and three online. Over a 12-month period, participants attended sessions aimed at better understanding their condition, taking control of their habits and developing motivation to sustain long-term lifestyle changes.
During the first six months of follow-up, eight out of ten participants were able to reduce their pharmacological treatment and, in three out of ten cases, discontinue it completely. These advances show that a diagnosis does not irreversibly determine the course of the disease: people can actively influence their prognosis by stabilising cardiovascular risk parameters such as blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides.
It has also been shown that most patients improved their metabolic profile, with weight loss, an increase in lean mass and a reduction in fat mass. In addition, the reduction in medication resulted in a direct saving of 43% in pharmaceutical expenditure. The indicators obtained in Asturias—glycaemic control, weight and waist circumference—are at levels similar to those of the Dutch good practice recognised by the OECD, which served as the inspiration for this project.
The event will be attended by the Director-General for Care and Social and Health Coordination, Ms Rocío Allande Díaz, together with representatives of the host municipality, Soto de Ribera (positions and names to be added once confirmed). They will be joined by the professional teams who, through coordination and group facilitation, have contributed to the success of an intervention that, for many people in Asturias with type 2 diabetes, “has meant a life-changing experience”, helping them to modify habits and improve their health through a self-care approach.
The project has been led by the Directorate-General for Care and Social and Health Coordination, and jointly coordinated by the Asturias Health Service (SESPA) and the Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific Research and Technology in Asturias (FICYT), with the participation of a wide range of healthcare professionals and community stakeholders.
The closing event included activities and dynamics focused on reinforcing the lessons learned during the programme, with the aim of ensuring that newly adopted habits are maintained over time. As a summary of the project’s spirit: “C4D Taking Care of My Diabetes fits naturally into people’s daily lives.”
Professionals involved in the coordination, implementation and evaluation of the programme presented also their contributions, reflections and proposals for future sustainability.