International Diabetes Federation

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is a worldwide alliance of 200 diabetes associations in more than 150 countries, who have come together to enhance the lives of people with diabetes everywhere. For over 50 years, IDF has been at the vanguard of global diabetes advocacy. The Federation is committed to raising global awareness of diabetes, promoting appropriate diabetes care and prevention, and encouraging activities towards finding a cure for the different types of diabetes. It is the mission of IDF to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.

IDF’s working bodies bring together the most important stakeholders from the global diabetes community in a collaborative effort to set common goals and co-ordinate activities towards the attainment of these goals. These stakeholders include: people with diabetes and their families; professionals involved in diabetes healthcare and related fields; diabetes representative organizations, and partners from commercial organizations with concerns which align with our mission. IDF is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations and is in official relations with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.

A press release issued by the IDF in December, 2006 indicated that "the disease now affects a staggering 246 million people worldwide, with 46% of all those affected in the 40-59 age group. Previous figures underestimated the scope of the problem, while even the most pessimistic predictions fell short of the current figure. The new data predict that the total number of people living with diabetes will skyrocket to 380 million within twenty years if nothing is done."

Programs
The International Diabetes Federation conducts a number of programs for care of persons with diabetes and for educating the people and professionals about diabetes. Some of the current (2007) programs include:


 * IDF Task Force on Insulin, Test Strips and Other Diabetes Supplies
 * IDF Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines
 * IDF Consultative Section on Diabetes Education (DECS)
 * IDF worldwide definition of the metabolic syndrome
 * Type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in Europe
 * Definition and Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus and Intermediate Hyperglycaemia
 * IDF Child Sponsorship Program

Publications
Publications by the International Diabetes Federation include the following books :


 * Diabetes Atlas, Third Edition
 * 19th World Diabetes Congress Abstract Book
 * 19th World Diabetes Congress Abstract CD-Rom
 * IDF Activity Report 2003-2006
 * Diabetes education modules
 * Diabetes and Foot Care: Time to Act
 * Global Guideline for Type 2 Diabetes
 * The IDF Consensus Worldwide Definition of the Metabolic Syndrome
 * 10 Steps to Better Glucose Control: A Practical Guide
 * Diabetes and Obesity: Time to Act
 * Diabetes and Kidney Disease: Time to Act
 * Cost-effective Approaches to Diabetes Care and Prevention
 * Global Strategic Plan to Raise Awareness of Diabetes
 * International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot
 * International Curriculum for Diabetes Health Education
 * Guide for Guidelines. A guide for clinical guideline development

Diabetes DYK
The International Diabetes Association has collected and published certain data under the caption Did You Know? relating to occurrence and prevalence of diabetes. These data indicate the enormity of the diabetes prevalence and indicate that pointed efforts are required to manage the position. Some of the data:


 * 1) Around 246 million people have diabetes in the world and the largest concentration of people with diabetes are in India (40.9 million), China (39.8 million), the USA (19.2 million), and Germany (7.4 million)
 * 2) Each year around 7 million more people will suffer from diabetes - every ten seconds one person develops diabetes, and every ten seconds a person dies of diabetes. Diabetes is the fourth leading disease causing death.
 * 3) Around 50% of the people affected with diabetes are unaware of their condition, and in some countries this figure may be around 50%.
 * 4) Type 2 diabetes may be prevented to the extent of 80% by a healthy diet and increasing physical activities like moderate exercise and walking.
 * 5) Most of the kidney failure may be attributable to diabetes, and 10% to 20% of the people with diabetes die of renal failure.