On November 10–11, 2025, Catania will be at the center of the international scientific debate on the link between smoking and type 2 diabetes.
Through the application of the Delphi method – a qualitative research technique used to collect and harmonize the views of world-leading experts – the Sicilian city at the foot of Mount Etna will host the most authoritative researchers in the fields of diabetology, public health, and tobacco harm reduction.
The aim is to discuss and identify the most effective strategies to help smokers with diabetes either reduce the risks associated with conventional cigarette smoking or quit smoking altogether.
The event, part of the PNRR HEAL Italia project, funded by the European Union and the Italian Ministry of University and Research, is organized in collaboration with CoEHAR – the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction of the University of Catania.
The main goal of the Collegium Internationale Diabetologicum is to define international guidelines for smoking cessation and/or harm reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Over the two days, participants will work on drafting an international scientific consensus document that will outline the most effective strategies to support smoking cessation in this particularly vulnerable patient population.
The first part of the Collegium – scheduled for Monday, November 10, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Plaza Hotel in Catania – will feature a series of interactive sessions and thematic workshops reserved for experts, conducted using the Delphi method.
Discussions will explore topics such as: the psychological, cultural, and clinical barriers to cessation; the epidemiology of smoking among people with type 2 diabetes; the role of smoking as a risk factor for the onset and worsening of the disease; and the pharmacological, behavioral, and alternative strategies to support quitting.
In the afternoon, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, the Collegium will open its doors to the public with an outreach seminar on the subject.
Experts from CoEHAR and the University of Catania will present the endocrinological, pharmacological, and behavioral implications of smoking cessation, along with new harm reduction strategies.
The concluding session, on Tuesday, November 11 (10:00 am–1:00 pm), will again be reserved for sector specialists. At the end of the workshops, participants will draft the final version of the consensus document, coordinated by the CoEHAR team and AIM Education.
The two-day event will be opened by Prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR and professor at the University of Catania, who will outline the scientific objectives of the initiative and the methodology adopted.
The approach promoted by CoEHAR seeks to integrate science, innovation, and public health, emphasizing the role of harm reduction strategies as a complement to traditional cessation policies.
In synergy with the HEAL Italia Foundation, the national hub for innovation in precision medicine, the seminar represents a unique opportunity to promote a culture of health and spread healthy lifestyles, away from the scourge of smoking, within the diabetology community.
How to participate:
- According to the program, public attendance is open only on Monday, November 10, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Admission is free, but registration is required by writing to: cr.coehar@unict.it.
- The first 30 registrants will also gain free access to an online training course (FAD) accredited with 50 ECM credits, valid for all healthcare professions.
The program of the event here.