International Diabetes Federation Launches Action Plan to Improve Standards of Diabetes Care in North America

MONTREAL--(Business Wire)--
The International Diabetes Federation North America and Caribbean Region (IDF
NAC) today launched an action plan to improve the prevention, treatment and care
of diabetes in the region. The plan calls for national implementation of United
Nations Resolution on Diabetes 61/225 and highlights the need for improved
collaboration between diabetes stakeholders and government to facilitate better
access to treatments and services.

According to new data released by IDF today, the North America and Caribbean
Region has the highest comparative prevalence of diabetes among the IDF regions
with over 37 million adults with diabetes. 26.8 million people with diabetes
reside in the United States, 6.8 million in Mexico and 2.9 million in Canada.1
The United Nations Resolution has helped lay the foundations to develop national
policies on the treatment and care of diabetes, but despite progress achieved by
groups including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Canadian
associations, the growing diabetes epidemic threatens to overwhelm healthcare
systems unless urgent action is taken.

The IDF NAC action plan identifies five key elements to help enable regional
implementation of the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes:

* collaboration between governments and stakeholders, such as groups
representing health professionals and those living with diabetes, to achieve new
legislation or improved implementation of existing legislation to tackle the
diabetes epidemic;
* improved treatment and care of diabetes to include integrated health centres,
diabetes management based on evidence-based goals and better access to
medications;
* prevention through awareness and education in local communities; and
* optimized professional education and communication
* increased coordination of diabetes associations

"While countries such as the US and Canada have already made significant steps
to improve primary prevention measures to alleviate the growing burden of
diabetes, these countries now have an important role to play in addressing
diabetes in the region and developing practical actions to ensure that standards
of care are regionally adopted," said Lurline Less, Chair of IDF NAC.

The launch of the plan follows a meeting of IDF NAC member associations,
including the ADA, the Diabète Québec and the Canadian Diabetes Association, to
review progress on tackling diabetes in the region and to prioritize the
implementation of national programs.

The NAC action plan identifies the improvement in patient outcomes which can be
achieved with collaboration among the country associations so that countries
with a well-developed diabetes infrastructure, can share resources and best
practice with their neighbouring countries.

The full IDF North America and Caribbean Region action plan is available at:
www.idf.org

1 IDF Diabetes Atlas, 4th Edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009.
Available at www.diabetesatlas.org

- ENDS -

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.

Acknowledgement

This consensus was led by the International Diabetes Federation North America
and Caribbean Region and supported by Merck & Co., Inc.

Media:
International Diabetes Federation
Kerrita McClaughlyn, Media Relations Manager
Mobile: +32-487530625
Email: media@idf.org
or
Hill & Knowlton
Ainsley Munce
Mobile: +44-7855173704
Email: ainsley.munce@hillandknowlton.org
or
Simon Grist
Office: +44 (0) 207-413-3768
Email: simon.grist@hillandknowlton.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009