Montreal -- Oct. 20, 2009 -- The International Diabetes Federation North America and Caribbean Region (IDF NAC) today launched a regional action plan calling for better access to the treatment and care needed by people with diabetes, and improved education and awareness within local communities. The action plan incorporates the IDF NAC Patient Charter which, for the first time in the Caribbean, sets out the rights of people living with type 2 diabetes to obtain optimal standards of care.
According to new data released by IDF today, diabetes affects 1.1 million people in the Caribbean and up to 20% of the adult population in some countries. The North America and Caribbean Region has the highest comparative prevalence of diabetes among the seven IDF regions.1
The IDF NAC action plan identifies five key elements to help enable regional implementation of the UN Resolution for Diabetes; collaboration with governments on key diabetes issues; improved treatment and care of diabetes including use of evidence-based standards and access to medications; prevention through awareness and education in local communities; optimizing professional education and communication; increased coordination of diabetes associations.
In addition, the IDF NAC Patient Charter sets out the following essential treatment rights. People with diabetes should be entitled to:
- have access to established testing of HbA1c†;
- be treated to achieve evidenced-based standards in HbA1c;
- have access to sufficiently effective, safe, affordable and easy-to-use medications;
- have access to regular eye, dental and feet check-ups;
- have access to psychological consultation on diagnosis;
- have affordable access to self-management tools (including test strips, BGM, medications – oral and insulin); and
- have access to nutritionists and dieticians to help manage their diabetes.
Lurline Less, Chair of IDF NAC and Executive Chairman of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica commented “Factors including inequalities in wealth, geographic isolation and burden on healthcare resources mean that the Caribbean has particularly suffered from the impact of diabetes. The plan we have agreed creates a template that countries can follow to enhance diabetes care in the region, raising the profile of diabetes on the healthcare agenda and sharing best practice.”
The launch of the regional action plan follows a meeting of IDF NAC member associations in Jamaica, to discuss implementation of the UN Resolution on Diabetes 61/225. The Resolution has helped to lay the foundations to develop national policies on the treatment and care of diabetes.
The full IDF North America and Caribbean Region action plan is available at: www.idf.org
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Notes to editors
International Diabetes Federation
The International
Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the global advocate for people with
diabetes worldwide. It represents over 200 diabetes associations in more
than 160 countries. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention
and a cure worldwide. The International Diabetes Federation is an NGO in
official relations with the World Health Organization and an associated
NGO with the United Nations Department of Public Information. The
International Diabetes Federation leads the World Diabetes Day campaign.
Additional information is available at www.idf.org
UN Resolution
The UN recognition of World Diabetes
Day follows the passing of Resolution 61/225, the World Diabetes Day
Resolution, in December 2006. The landmark resolution was the first goal
of an ambitious campaign led by IDF which recognizes diabetes as a
chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with major
complications that pose severe risks for families and countries
throughout the world. The UN has thrown its support behind World
Diabetes Day and encourages countries to act now. To mark this special
event, individuals are encouraged to wear the diabetes pin, which
incorporates a blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes. The
Resolution can be viewed at: www.unitefordiabetes.org/campaign/resolution.html.
About Diabetes
Each year 7 million people develop
diabetes and the most dramatic increases in type 2 diabetes have
occurred in populations where there have been rapid and major changes in
lifestyle, demonstrating the important role played by lifestyle factors
and the potential for reversing the global epidemic. A person with type
2 diabetes is 2 – 4 times more likely to get cardiovascular disease
(CVD), and 80% of people with diabetes will die from it. Premature
mortality caused by diabetes results in an estimated 12 to 14 years of
life lost. A person with diabetes incurs medical costs that are two to
five times higher than those of a person without diabetes, and the World
Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 15% of annual health
budgets are spent on diabetes-related illnesses. There is conclusive
evidence that good control of blood glucose levels and management of
high blood pressure and aspects of the lipid profile (blood fats) can
slow the progression to or of type 2 diabetes, and substantially reduce
the risk of developing complications (such as cardiovascular, eye and
kidney disease) in people with diabetes. Facts and figures can be viewed
at: www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=4
IDF Regional Meetings
The International Diabetes
Federation (IDF) with support from Merck & Co., Inc. has implemented
this meeting as part of a series, with meetings taking place in each of
the seven IDF regions (Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Europe,
North America and Caribbean, South and Central America, South-East Asia
and Western Pacific) towards the end of 2008 and throughout 2009. The
meeting programme provides an opportunity to identify regional
capacity-building needs to facilitate effective implementation of the
UNR. It is also a unique platform to encourage open dialogue and best
practice sharing between countries in each region, to ensure such
initiatives are a success.