Santé publique France conducted three national studies on diabetes called Entred (National Representative Sample of People with Diabetes) in 2001, 2007, and 2019. 

These studies aim to better understand the needs and care of people with diabetes in France. In particular, they collect information on health status, socioeconomic status, quality of care (including educational initiatives), the care pathway, the quality of life of people with diabetes, treatment strategies, the cost of care, and ways to improve medical practices.

Learn more:

• Entred 3
• Entred 2007: 
  • Report presenting the main findings on characteristics, health status, care, and economic impact
  • Methodological Report

Santé publique France conducts surveys of the general population to assess the prevalence of diabetes and improve its management. These studies fall into two categories:

Report-based studies: the Santé publique France Barometer

This large-scale study estimates the prevalence of reported diabetes (including cases managed solely through lifestyle and dietary measures). Its nationwide coverage allows for comparisons between each overseas territory and the situation in mainland France.

Studies involving health examinations

Santé publique France conducts studies in the general population that include a health examination, such as a fasting blood glucose test. 

These studies, which are more complex to implement, include a fasting blood glucose test. They provide estimates of the prevalence of prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and diabetes managed (or not) through lifestyle and dietary measures or medication.

Examples of studies conducted:

•  The ENNS 2006–2007 study and the Esteban 2014–2016 study

Conducted in mainland France among adults aged 18 to 74, these studies examined several aspects of health: exposure to certain environmental substances, diet, physical activity, and certain chronic diseases or risk factors (diabetes, allergies, respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.).

A new edition is currently underway, under the name Albane.

• The Unono Wa Maore 2018–2019 Study 

This study, conducted in Mayotte, used HbA1c testing to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes. 

• The SaMarOya Study (currently being implemented in inland French Guiana)

The study includes HbA1c testing, which will make it possible to estimate, for the first time, the prevalence of diabetes and the proportion of undiagnosed diabetes in this population.

Other studies: the Constances cohort

Santé publique France conducts studies in the general population that include a health examination—featuring a fasting blood glucose test—as part of various partnerships. 

The Constances cohort, consisting of a sample of more than 200,000 people aged 18 to 69, makes it possible to estimate these prevalence rates and break them down according to certain demographic, socioeconomic or metabolic risk factors, and to study these associations. 

The National Health Data System (SNDS) is a medical-administrative database that covers the entire French population (all individuals who have resided in France for more than 3 months and are enrolled in a health insurance plan). It tracks:

• healthcare reimbursements (medications, medical procedures, laboratory tests, medical devices), 
• sociodemographic information: age, sex, municipality of residence, 
• hospitalization data and causes of death. 

For more information: The National Health Data System (SNDS). Bull Epidemiol Hebd. 2025;(HS):117-23. 

What is this data used for?

Using a validated algorithm, the SNDS identifies cases of diabetes treated with medication* and estimates:

• the prevalence of 
  • diabetes treated with medication;
  • type 1 diabetes among young people under 20 years of age;
• incidence: 
  • of type 1 diabetes in children under 15 years of age;
  • diabetes-related complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, lower limb amputation, end-stage chronic kidney disease) among treated individuals;
• the frequency of recommended tests:
  • HbA1c, microalbuminuria, serum creatinine, and lipid profile tests;
  • consultations (dental, ophthalmological, and cardiological follow-up)

These indicators are updated regularly, have been available since 2010, are broken down by region or department, and are accessible as open data via the Odissé platform. 

* Fuentes S, Cosson E, Mandereau-Bruno L, Fagot-Campagna A, Bernillon P, Goldberg M, Fosse-Edorh S; CONSTANCES-Diab Group. Identifying diabetes cases in health administrative databases: a validation study based on a large French cohort. Int J Public Health. 2019 Apr;64(3):441-450. doi:10.1007/s00038-018-1186-3. Epub 2018 Dec 4. PMID: 30515552 – Q1 (IF: 2.332)