Combining Efforts to Stop Diabetes®
Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes and an additional 86 million have prediabetes, placing them at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. The University of Florida and the American Diabetes Association are working together in efforts to improve the lives of those affected by diabetes and innovate new strategies to diagnose, treat, and prevent the disease.
Research
- Scientific Sessions: The American Diabetes Association is well-known for presenting the latest in clinical trials and research. UF has strong participation in the ADA’s premiere clinical diabetes conferences year-round, including the world’s largest annual diabetes meeting. Research posters submitted by UF graduate and doctoral students increase each year, while our diabetes experts interact with peers from other health care and research institutions to share cutting-edge clinical treatment updates and the latest updates in diabetes management.
- Comprehensive Focus: Supported by the ADA, UF researchers are working on a set of comprehensive initiatives that investigate all aspects of the disease — everything from cell function in Type 1 diabetes, primary prevention screening and reducing complications.
Learn more about recent UF research highlighted by the ADA: Fatty Liver and Type 2 Diabetes: Diabetes Forecast®»
Bone and Joint Health in Type 1 Diabetes: Diabetes Forecast®»
Education
Program Recognition: UF established one of the first pediatric-specific programs in Florida and the nation to receive the coveted Diabetes Education Program Recognition certification from the American Diabetes Association. Today, the UF Health Diabetes Education Program is nationally recognized for providing patients with quality outpatient diabetes education and emphasizing healthy living strategies to prevent and manage Type 2 diabetes as well as complications of the disease.
Advocacy
The American Diabetes Association is committed to diabetes prevention and awareness. UF and UF Health collaboratively support this focus in a variety of ways:
- Community Awareness: UF staff, students and alumni participate in ADA-sponsored awareness activities, including the Tour De Cure in Jacksonville.
- Safe Campaigns: UF Diabetes Institute team members ally with ADA legal and advocacy leaders to author annual publications focused on equal rights and employee protections for people with diabetes. In addition, UF is a leader in the Association’s Safe at School campaign. UF members contributed to the ADA’s official point of view on appropriate medical treatment and services for child care age children with diabetes.
- Wellness Resources: UF is committed to the Association’s focus on providing people with healthy ideas they can put into action. UF Health and the UF Student Health Care Center distribute ADA resources at wellness events across campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville year-round to help individuals make the right choices when it comes to what they eat.
Leadership
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Desmond Schatz, M.D. Faulty Excellence: The ADA recognizes many UF faculty for their leadership capacities on behalf of the Association, including Mark Atkinson, Ph.D., American Diabetes Association Eminent Scholar for Diabetes Research at UF, and Desmond Schatz, M.D., who was president of the American Diabetes Association in 2016. Numerous UF faculty from the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, Medicine, and Pubic Health and Health Professions also hold active membership with the organization.
- Future Leaders: UF’s team-based research culture allows young scientists to learn from leaders in their fields. Through opportunities like the American Diabetes Association’s Pathway to Prevention program, UF seeks to inspire a new generation of promising young students, researchers, and physicians to innovate and test new models of delivering diabetes care and treatment.