By The Diabetes Advocacy Alliance
As American Diabetes Month comes to a close this November, we’re looking back and celebrating the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance’s (DAA) strategic partnership with Healthy People 2020.
The Diabetes Advocacy Alliance (DAA) is a coalition of 22 members, representing patient, professional and trade associations, other nonprofit organizations, and corporations, all united in the desire to change the way diabetes is viewed and treated in America. The DAA was formed and began activities in January 2010. Three members of the DAA serve as co-chairs: American Diabetes Association; Pediatric Endocrine Society; and Novo Nordisk Inc. The DAA aims to unite and align key diabetes stakeholders and the larger diabetes community around important diabetes-related policy efforts in order to elevate diabetes on the national agenda.
Our partnership with Healthy People 2020, which was first announced on November 19, 2012, focuses on people with diabetes and those at risk for developing it. Our work brings together staff from federal agencies with representatives of the 22 members of the DAA, working together to advance four Healthy People 2020 Diabetes objectives related to preventing diabetes among those at risk and improving glycemic control among people with diabetes.
Our partnership has three primary goals:
- Coordinate activities that promote awareness of diabetes prevention or prevention of complications from diabetes
- Facilitate data collection to monitor progress toward achievement of Healthy People 2020 Diabetes objectives
- Support cross-sector collaboration to affect policy and system changes
We’re proud of our accomplishments, which over the years have included:
- Participating in the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s (ODPHP) 2012 National Health Promotion Summit in Washington, D.C.
- Planning and implementing four Spotlight on Health webinars on prevention of type 2 diabetes, emerging diabetes technologies, diabetes self-management education and support, and improving diabetes screening and referrals to diabetes prevention programs (more information is available here)
- Participating in the 2015 Healthy Aging Summit, co-sponsored by ODPHP and the American College of Preventive Medicine, with content focused on diabetes and older adults
- Bringing together DAA members and representatives of several federal agencies through planning and convening five in-person meetings, which have allowed for sharing of research and insights and encouraged collaboration in diabetes screening, prevention and care; quality measures; diabetes self-management education and support; and diabetes and rural health
Read more about our partnership activities.
What will the future of our partnership hold? Given the accomplishments we’ve seen to date, we look forward to continuing our joint efforts in support of diabetes prevention and care, and await the establishment of objectives for Healthy People 2030.