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Current Issues International Health and Diabetes
International Diabetes Federation – The Global Voice for Diabetes
Ann Keeling
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organisation The Federation has also since 2007 supported translational research
of over 200 diabetes member associations in over 160 countries. It projects globally. The Bringing Research in Diabetes to Global
represents the over 250 million people living with diabetes and the Environments and Systems (BRIDGES) programme funds translational
growing numbers at risk. research projects in diabetes prevention and treatment to provide the
opportunity to ‘translate’ lessons learned from clinical research to
The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since those who can benefit most: people affected by diabetes. Both short-
1950. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure term and long-term projects are currently under way in Australia,
worldwide. The Federation is engaged in tackling diabetes from Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea, India, Jordan, Sri Lanka, the UK, the US,
programmes at community level to worldwide awareness and Vietnam and the Philippines. The first project results will be available at
advocacy initiatives. Its activities aim to improve care for people the beginning of 2010.
with diabetes and influence policy, provide education for people with
diabetes and their healthcare providers, increase public awareness Guidelines and standards of care for diabetes are of particular
and encourage health improvement, as well as the promotion and importance to the Federation. Through its extensive networks of
exchange of high-quality information about diabetes. experts, IDF is able to research and publish models of care and
guidelines for diabetes education and management to assist
IDF is an associated non-governmental organisation (NGO) with physicians, nurses, diabetes educators and other healthcare
the UN Department of Public Information and is in official relations professionals. These tools also provide a blueprint for government
with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American health systems to implement or improve diabetes care. In addition, the
Health Organization (PAHO). The Federation also works closely with Federation is currently conducting individual country assessments on
other diabetes organisations, governments, health professionals, civil access to insulin data and diabetes care – in Vietnam in 2008 and in
society, education and research institutions, pharmaceutical and other Kyrgyzstan in 2009. The results of these Rapid Assessment Protocol for
industries and other non-communicable diseases. Insulin Access (RAPIA) studies will be released at the World Diabetes
Congress and will be presented to the national governments.
The Federation is committed to working with governments worldwide
and to encouraging implementation of the UN Resolution on diabetes World Diabetes Congress
(61/225). IDF led the successful Unite for Diabetes campaign, which The Federation will organise its 20th World Diabetes Congress this
resulted in the unanimous adoption of the Resolution by the UN year in Montréal, Canada on 18–22 October. The Congress is held
General Assembly in 2006. It now leads the charge to get the every two years and is one of the world’s largest health-related
Resolution implemented globally. congresses. The congress provides the opportunity to discuss a broad
range of diabetes issues, from the latest scientific advances to
Comprehensive Diabetes Data cutting-edge information on education, diabetes care, advocacy and
The Federation is committed to providing the world with the latest and awareness. IDF will also provide updates and new editions of the
most authoritative global prevalence data on diabetes, comprehensive Diabetes Atlas and various guidelines and curricula. The World
diabetes care guidelines and the latest innovations in diabetes Diabetes Congress features state-of-the-art topics arranged into six
education. It also aims to serve as a repository for diabetes data for programme streams: association development, clinical research,
researchers, governments, industries, healthcare professionals and education, foundation science, healthcare and epidemiology and
people with diabetes. living with diabetes. Each stream includes lectures that will be held in
a variety of formats to allow for constructive interaction and to share
Since 2000, the Federation has produced the Diabetes Atlas, a unique best practice: meet-the-expert sessions, debates, teaching,
resource that tracks the prevalence, costs and economic impact of workshops including practical demonstrations, problem-solving or
diabetes globally. The Atlas is published every three years. The current hands-on training sessions and poster sessions. Above all, the
edition of the Atlas is available for free online at www.eatlas.idf.org. The congress brings the global diabetes community together to review
fourth edition of the Atlas will be released at the 20th World Diabetes progress on implementing the UN Resolution on diabetes and
Congress in Montreal in October 2009. IDF will include annual updates recharge energy for the next steps in the global movement.
online to better serve the needs of the global diabetes community. The
Federation hopes to implement key studies with various partners to fill World Diabetes Day and Diabetes Awareness
the gaps in the diabetes evidence base. In addition, expert and Created by IDF and the WHO in 1991, World Diabetes Day is an official
systematic reviews will be commissioned and conducted. UN World Day. The campaign is led by IDF and its member associations.
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