Diabetes Advocates Call For National Strategy, Leadership to Reduce Diabetes and Advance Detection and...(re-diabetes. The coordinator...),Health

The coordinator would be responsible for developing and implementing a national strategy to reduce the incidence, progression and impact of diabetes by linking government agencies with public and private sector efforts. This coordination would extend across federal and state levels to community public health agencies.

"By harnessing all these government resources, we will be able to increase detection of diabetes and improve the care of those who have the disease, maximize treatment and research into new medicines, and work aggressively to prevent the disease in populations at greatest risk," said Lana Vukovljak, Chief Executive Officer at the American Association of Diabetes Educators. "All this will be done with an eye toward saving taxpayers money through better alignment of government resources.

Among the NCDP member associations in support of the National Diabetes Coordinator position are The American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and American Optometric Association (AOA).

"The social and economic costs of diabetes are staggering to American patients, families, and humanity as a whole. A National Diabetes Coordinator will help ensure coordination of diabetes research, education and outreach efforts across the spectrum of federal agencies."

Ted Epperly, MD

President, AAFP

"Our hope is that the creation of a National Diabetes Coordinator will provide the leadership necessary to promote and encourage early diagnosis and treatment, and efficiently and effectively reduce the incidence, progression and impact of diabetes - ultimately saving lives, America's vision and taxpayer resources."

Peter H. Kehoe, O.D.

President, AOA

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