Living with diabetes under regular circumstances requires constant attention and discipline, and during times of instability or conflict becomes a significantly heavier burden.This statement brings together the lived experiences and voices of people living with diabetes in Lebanon who live through continuous difficult conditions and crises (including political, socio-economic, environmental, conflict and humanitarian crises) that place challenges on a physical, emotional, and systemic level for all people living with chronic non-communicable diseases, particularly those with diabetes.

The National Diabetes Organization - DiaLeb has been supporting the diabetes community since its establishment in 2011. As a patient-focused NGO, DiaLeb has ensured stable access to medication, diabetes supplies and care throughout some of Lebanon’s most difficult times. Since March 2, 2026, Lebanon has experienced a severe escalation in conflict, resulting in over 2,500 deaths, widespread destruction, and the displacement of over 1.2 million people as Israel launched intensive airstrikes and expanded its military operations in southern Lebanon. 

The crisis has profoundly affected many, but particularly those in our diabetes community. Diabetes care in times of crisis requires specialized, proactive planning to prevent life-threatening complications due to interruptions in medication, food, and medical services.  Access to essential medical supplies,including insulin, sensors, test strips, and pump consumables, can become uncertain or disrupted during crises. As Perla, a dietician and mother of three living with type 1 diabetes explained, “ Lebanon has always had issues with insulin and medical supplies in Lebanon in times of conflict which is very often this last decade”. 

Challenges related to displacement and limited infrastructure, and the requirement to keep diabetes supplies under refrigeration, further complicate safe diabetes management.

Beyond access, the emotional and psychological impact is profound. Many individuals describe a constant fear and anxiety regarding access to insulin, medical care, and emergency support. Even when shortages do not immediately occur, the fear of potential interruption creates continuous psychological pressure. “Even from safe zones, keeping blood sugar in range under stress is incredibly difficult”, explains Jana, a 23 year old living with type 1 diabetes. In times like these, when everything around us feels unstable, diabetes care cannot pause, it is essential and must continue every single day.” 

Emotional strain, fear, and uncertainty directly affect glycemic levels, adding another layer of unpredictability to daily management and leading to poor diabetes control, which could lead to complications in the long run.

The stress responses triggered by crisis conditions, fear, and uncertainty can have severe physical adverse impacts, and directly impact glucose stability. As Ahmed explains, “every explosion triggers a cortisol spike, which immediately sends glucose levels climbing. You aren't just managing what you eat; you're managing how your body reacts to a state of constant "fight or flight” [mode].”

For many, the crisis has also disrupted life trajectories and personal stability. Students and young professionals who once had structured routines and purposeful daily lives have found these abruptly interrupted. Displacement from homes, separation from friends and support networks, and migration of loved ones contribute to feelings of isolation and disconnection, deepening the emotional impacts.

As Pedro, who had to move away from his Beirut home explains, “the mental health impact is significant. Anxiety, fear, and persistent overthinking become part of everyday life. It becomes a constant balancing act between managing diabetes, coping with uncertainty, and processing grief and disruption all at once.” 

Living with diabetes in Lebanon today means navigating not only a medical condition, but also survival, uncertainty, and emotional strain simultaneously. Anxiety, fear, sleep disruption, and persistent overthinking have become part of daily reality for many. 

As Rona put its “during these difficult times, [we learn] what it truly means to live with diabetes under pressure. Beyond the numbers, there’s a constant weight of uncertainty… fear of rising glucose levels, uncontrollable stress, and the anxiety of not knowing if insulin will always be available.”

Yet within these challenges, the diabetes community continues to demonstrate resilience, solidarity, and strength. 

As Nada expressed, “every scar, every injection, every moment of fear … pushed through is proof of resilience. What we go through is not easy, but it is powerful. And maybe that’s what people don’t see: behind every person living with diabetes is someone constantly choosing to survive, to adapt, and to keep going.”

Behind every person living with diabetes in a crisis is a human story marked by disruption, resilience, fear, and the ongoing effort to continue despite everything.

Ensuring continuous access to insulin and diabetes care and supplies is not optional, it is life-sustaining. DiaLeb has constantly emphasized that people living with diabetes must be recognized as a priority group in emergency preparedness and response planning. And it has advocated for this at global World Health Assemblies of the WHO, convenings around safety and care for people living with diabetes alongside the International Diabetes Federation, International Federation of the Red Cross, and others. 

These lived experiences highlight an urgent truth: diabetes care cannot pause during crises. It requires uninterrupted access to treatment, stable supply chains, and integrated psychosocial support systems.

DiaLeb therefore calls on the international health policy-making community, governments, humanitarian actors, and multilateral organizations to ensure the protection of people living with non-communicable diseases—particularly diabetes—as a fundamental human right, especially during times of crisis and conflict.

This requires moving beyond recognition toward concrete, enforceable action. We urge stakeholders to build on existing global commitments, including the World Health Organization frameworks on non-communicable diseases, the International Diabetes Federation guidelines, and humanitarian standards such as those of the Sphere Project and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Specifically, we call for:

  • The formal recognition of people living with NCDs as a priority population in all emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans.

  • The guaranteed continuity of care, including uninterrupted access to insulin, essential medicines, diagnostics, and technologies, through protected and resilient supply chains.

  • The integration of diabetes and NCD care into humanitarian response systems, including primary care, emergency services, and displacement settings.

  • The inclusion of mental health and psychosocial support as a core component of diabetes care in crisis contexts.

  • The active engagement of patient organizations and affected communities in the design and implementation of crisis response strategies.

We further call for accountability mechanisms to ensure that these commitments are upheld, and for sustained investment in health system resilience so that no person living with diabetes is left without life-saving care when it is needed most.

Protecting people living with diabetes in times of crisis is not only a medical necessity—it is a moral and legal obligation. The time to act is now.