Availability
A number of initiatives and declarations designed to help develop
national strategies for the management of diabetes have been
established. These include the pan-European St Vincent's Declaration
of 1989, the Declaration of the Americas (DOTA) created in 1996
and the Western Pacific Declaration launched in 2000. These
declarations set a framework for developing planning strategies
to overcome the challenges stated above through partnership
with organisations, such as the World Health Organisation and
the International Diabetes Federation.
Part of the remit of organisations such as DOTA and the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to encourage governments
to recognise diabetes as a serious disease and to develop
national strategies for the management of diabetes. The success
of these activities has been demonstrated in Europe, where
lobbying of the European Union prompted the European Parliament
to include diabetes as a priority area for research.
Promoting diabetes as a serious
disease
Some initiatives are in place to educate physicians and pharmacists
and other healthcare professionals about diabetes, but more
needs to be done by the diabetes associations to increase
awareness of diabetes and increase membership. As awareness
of diabetes as a serious disease increases in the general
public, consumers will insist their physicians know more about
the disease.
Further dissemination of appropriate information for the
person with diabetes, often in partnership with industry, needs
to be accomplished.
Funding/Cost
Another key role for diabetes associations is to continue
to lobby governments on funding issues. Efforts from members
of national organisations, such as the American Diabetes Association
(ADA) and the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE),
have prompted reimbursement for diabetes education and supplies
in the US.
In Australia, the National Diabetic Services Scheme (NDSS),
established in 1987, by Diabetes Australia and the Australian
Government provides essential supplies, such as test strips,
syringes and needles, to people with diabetes at reduced cost.
Diabetes Australia also provides a range of information and
educational services, including diabetes management literature,
access to diabetes educators and training in the use of blood
glucose meters and insulin pen devices.
However, governments and insurance agencies need to be lobbied
further to increase funding for diabetes supplies and education.
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