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From Individuals to International Policy: Achievements and Ongoing Needs in Diabetes Advocacy

  • Psychosocial Aspects (KK Hood and S Jaser, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Diabetes impacts tens of millions of people in the United States of America and 9 % of the worldwide population. Given the public health implications and economic burden of diabetes, the needs of people with diabetes must be addressed through strategic and effective advocacy efforts. Diabetes advocacy aims to increase public awareness about diabetes, raise funds for research and care, influence policy impacting people with diabetes, and promote optimal individual outcomes. We present a framework for diabetes advocacy activities by individuals and at the community, national, and international levels and identify challenges and gaps in current diabetes advocacy. Various groups have organized successful diabetes advocacy campaigns toward these goals, and lessons for further advancing diabetes advocacy can be learned from other health-related populations. Finally, we discuss the role of healthcare providers and mental/behavioral health professionals in advocacy efforts that can benefit their patients and the broader population of people with diabetes.

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Acknowledgments

The work of Marisa E. Hilliard, Ph.D., and Barbara J. Anderson, Ph.D., on this paper was supported by the NIH (K12 DK 097696, PI: B. Anderson) and in part by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Dr. Anderson is also supported by JDRF and NIH (R01 DK 095273). Korey K. Hood, Ph.D., is supported by grants from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and NIH (R01 DK 901470, DP3 DK 104059). Sean Oser, M.D., is supported by the NIH (DP3 DK 104054).

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Conflict of Interest

Marisa E. Hilliard, Sean M. Oser, Kelly Close, Nancy Liu, Korey K. Hood, and Barbara J. Anderson declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates Avenue, Suite 940, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Marisa E. Hilliard & Barbara J. Anderson

  2. Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, HP-21, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Sean M. Oser

  3. The diaTribe Foundation, 804 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA, 94117, USA

    Kelly L. Close & Nancy F. Liu

  4. Stanford University School of Medicine, 780 Welch Road, MC 5208, Palo Alto, CA, 94305-5208, USA

    Korey K. Hood

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  1. Marisa E. Hilliard
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Correspondence to Marisa E. Hilliard.

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Hilliard, M.E., Oser, S.M., Close, K.L. et al. From Individuals to International Policy: Achievements and Ongoing Needs in Diabetes Advocacy. Curr Diab Rep 15, 59 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-015-0636-z

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