The December issue of Diabetes Voice builds up to the IDF Congress 2017, taking place in Abu Dhabi from 4 to 8 December, with an editorial from outgoing IDF President Dr Shaukat Sadikot and two articles presenting streams of the Scientific Programme. We also look back at World Diabetes Day 2017 and take a look behind the numbers of the IDF Diabetes Atlas 8th Edition, which was launched on 14 November.