BACKGROUND :

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly influencing different agendas in among others public health, from local to global level. Due to the nature and extent of the 17 SDGs, and their 169 targets and 244 indicators, it is inevitable that working with one goal will have an impact on other goals, creating synergies or trade-offs, respectively. This is a complex interplay that needs exploring and analytical approaches in order to fulfill the 2030 Agenda. The health goal is tightly linked with goals on e.g. poverty, food, education and equity as well as on building institutions that can support a process to reach the goals. The global prevalence of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in adults has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014, which is closely linked to the rise in commercial determinants of health. Diabetes is expected to continue to increase in prevalence to become the 7th leading cause of disease worldwide in 2030. Almost half of all diabetes-related deaths occur before the age of 70. Commercial determinants (availability of cheap unhealthy food, drinks, tobacco and others) play an important role for the prevalence of diabetes and the outcome of those living with the disease. Thus, the political economy, with measures like sugar tax and restriction of advertisements for unhealthy food are integral for reaching target 3.4. By cooperating on sharing prevention practices, the countries can save lives in taking this broader perspective on health services. In order to explore the potential effect of working towards the different SDGs and their targets on health, diabetes type 2 was selected as a showcase. Reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases including diabetes with one third by 2030 is one of the targets (target 3.4) under Goal 3, “Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages”. During the side meeting, the following questions will be discussed: - How do the different SDG targets and indicators affect the target of reducing premature mortality from diabetes? - What additional data not included in the SDGs, their targets and their indicators are needed to direct the work towards reducing premature mortality from diabetes? - How can a model be built that takes the interlinkages between the SDG targets into account, but where also additional data relevant for the health goal can be included? - How can such a model improve the preventive approaches in Sweden and in other countries? - Can a similar model of interlinkages between the SDGs for other targets in the health goal? Speakers from diverse sectors will share their experiences exploring SDG interlinkages and commercial determinants, and the practical applicability and transferability to other targets and other contexts will be discussed. The session will be interactive, and a model will be built after suggestions from the participants.