About
The Asociación Colombiana de Diabetes (ACD, The Colombian Diabetes Association) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1954 to provide comprehensive care for people with diabetes in Colombia, particularly those with fewer economic resources. It is also committed to the continuing education of healthcare professionals and research in the field of diabetes.
Over the past 59 years, ACD has provided continuing education to more than 3,000 health professionals in Colombia and the Andean region.
ACD believes that education is a fundamental pillar in the treatment of people with diabetes. It has developed a structured educational programme that has been recognised by various local and international organisations, including the International Diabetes Federation, which designated ACD as an IDF Centre of Education from 2009 to 2015.
Main Focus
- Raise awareness of the health burden of diabetes and the need for early and appropriate prevention and treatment.
- Support people with diabetes, especially those with fewer financial resources.
- Improve the quality of life of people with diabetes through timely, efficient and supportive health care that responds to their needs and expectations, with the aim of achieving the best outcomes within the framework of modern management.
- Act as a reference centre for diabetes in Colombia, particularly in the field of education and research, to maintain the rate of new affiliates and continue to provide the best comprehensive care.
Activities
Education programmes
Education is one of the main pillars of diabetes treatment. ACD provides an ongoing programme that begins as soon as the person with diabetes arrives. It runs in parallel and in coordination with medical care, offering group sessions, workshops and individual consultations by health professionals in the fields of nutrition, physical activity, podiatry, psychology and general diabetes education. The programme is held weekly and is free of charge. There are also special programmes for children, including an annual summer camp and, recently, a training course for pump users.
Training programmes for diabetes educators
Diabetes educators are essential to the team approach to diabetes management. ACD offers a full week basic training course where they learn about diabetes management with emphasis on lifestyle changes and empowerment for self-management. It includes lectures, workshops and practical sessions on teaching skills, caring for people with disabilities, etc. The curriculum is based on the standards produced by IDF.
Each year, ACD organises an advanced course on a specific topic of interest for diabetes educators with international speakers.
Basic training course for primary care physicians
Primary care physicians are the gatekeepers in diabetes management. ACD offers them a week-long basic training course on primary care for people with diabetes, with an emphasis on prevention and management of risk factors for complications. The course includes lectures, workshops and case management following evidence-based clinical guidelines.
Basic training course on the diabetic foot
ACD has a very active foot clinic and offers short courses in foot care for physicians and health professionals with emphasis on prevention and management of foot ulcers.
Research
ACD has a clinical research centre certified in GPC by the National Institute for Scientific Research (INVIMA) with a full-time study coordinator. It conducts epidemiological studies and clinical trials. This has resulted in a considerable number of scientific publications.