About
The pulse of the Philippine Diabetes Association (PDA) began to throb thirty-six years ago, in the early part of July 1958. This was about the time when a group of internists and devoted physicians committed to the care, protection and recuperation of the person with diabetes banded together. It was the aim of this group to unify all interests and entities in the Philippines concerned about diabetes into a single association. Today, PDA stands as the umbrella organization of all associations involved in the care of people with diabetes in the country.
On 22 February, 1962, the Association was incorporated. PDA was founded were to foster and support studies and researches on the prevention and care of diabetes, including cooperation with government agencies to:
- Collect, analyse, interpret, interchange and disseminate information about diabetes in accordance with the latest findings.
- Affiliate or establish relations with other diabetes institutions in other countries.
- Promote understanding of people with diabetes to lead normal and useful lives and conduct a Diabetes Detection Drive to find undiscovered diabetes.
Main Focus
- To generate public awareness and help towards early detection of the disease.
- To help support studies and foster research on the prevention and care of diabetes.
- To promote awareness and understanding so people with diabetes can lead normal and productive lives.
- To improve diabetes care, education and research to prevent the onset of the condition in high risk individuals and the complications in those already affected by it.
- To improve quality of life for Filipinos with diabetes.
- To act as the umbrella organization of all associations involved in the care for people with diabetes.
Activities
World Diabetes Day:
Each year World Diabetes Day is thematically linked to a specific aspect related to diabetes. Although, the Philippines has its own Diabetes Awareness Week celebration, in keeping with IDF, it celebrates World Diabetes Day each year. It is celebrated simultaneously in nationwide events through Diabetes Philippines Chapters.
Health Education:
Annual Convention aimed at updating the scientific community on new aspects and trends on the management and treatment of diabetes. The annual convention becomes a venue for the exchange of ideas and the echo of new developments in the field, with research becoming an important innovation, as recipients of Diabetes Philippines research grants present their studies at the event.
Course on Diabetes and Vascular Disease: the main objective of the course is to update the community on significant and recent research on cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which hopefully will inspire the exploration of new treatment options and prevention in managing this dreaded complication.
Diabetes workshop: a postgraduate or refresher course for province-based general practitioners and internists. Through informative sessions, group discussions, workshops and case presentations, the workshops aim to upgrade doctor’s expertise in the management of diabetes, and tackle all aspects of the condition, from its pathogenesis and management, to dealing with acute and chronic complications.
Diabetes Forums: a day of intensive course of lectures on different aspects of diabetes to equip allied health professionals (nurses and dietitians) with the necessary tools to treat and manage diabetes mellitus.
Lay Annual Conventions/Gimik Diabetes – a venue for people with diabetes and their families to learn more about diabetes and interact with other people with diabetes.
Screening Programmes:
Conducted regularly by out-patient clinics sponsored by Diabetes Philippines Chapters all over the Philippines.
Message from the President
“As a member of IDF, we are committed to improve the lives of people with diabetes in the Philippines. We take our roles seriously and find ways to help healthcare professionals support people with diabetes and their families.”