FEDE and OAFI sign an agreement to promote joint actions in osteoarticular health and diabetes

• People living with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop arthritis or osteoarthritis as they age, even when factors such as weight or Body Mass Index (BMI) are not taken into account.

Madrid, February 5th, 2026. Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased likelihood of developing osteoarthritis. In this context, the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) and the Federación Española de Diabetes (FEDE) have signed a Framework Collaboration Agreement with the aim of developing lines of work of mutual interest for the promotion of health and social awareness. The text provides for support for initiatives and projects by both entities and the participation of patients with diabetes in the OAFI community osteoarticular health, among other joint actions.

Various meta-analyses and studies estimate that there is around 20-40% more relative probability of osteoarthritis in people with type 2 diabetes. Although being overweight is a determining factor in this relationship, the results show that this connection between pathologies remains even when adjusting for BMI, suggesting that other factors, such as hyperglycemia, influence the onset of osteoarthritis in those living with this chronic condition.

For Dr. Josep Vergés Milano, CEO of OAFI, “this agreement with FEDE reinforces a necessary alliance to place osteoarticular health on the agenda of chronic diseases. We want to help people with diabetes have more information and tools to prevent and detect complications related to bones, joints, and mobility early on, and continue to make progress in the empowerment and active management of their own health.”.

For Juantxo Remón, acting president of FEDE, “this agreement opens up an opportunity to broaden the focus, since diabetes not only requires good metabolic control, but also involves taking care of aspects that often go unnoticed, such as bone health and the risk of osteoarticular problems.”

In this way, both entities are committed to working for a period of one year, which may be extended, with the aim of achieving a more comprehensive approach to both pathologies, guaranteeing the quality of life of people with diabetes and osteoarthritis.

About FEDE

FEDE is the Spanish federation of patients with the largest number of members in Spain. It is the representative body for people with diabetes, which currently affects around 6,000,000 people, and has a total of 18 regional federations and 123 local associations for people with diabetes, distributed throughout the country.

Its main objectives include defending the rights of these people; contributing to the moral, physical, and educational support of the group; promoting and supporting diabetes education; promoting improvements in healthcare; preventing, intervening, and detecting diabetes early; and promoting and developing interest in and the advancement of research.

For more information: http://www.fedesp.es

About OAFI

Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) It is the first and only non-profit foundation in the world dedicated exclusively to people suffering from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and other osteoarticular diseases. Founded in 2016 and based in Barcelona, OAFI leads the global fight for joint health, promoting education, prevention, research, and patient support programs. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of those living with these conditions by promoting early detection, self-care, and patient empowerment.

Through international conferences, awareness campaigns, scientific projects, and collaborations, OAFI works to place joint health at the center of the health and social agenda.

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