American diabetes...

The American Diabetes Association: The American Diabetes Association (ADA), founded in 1940, provides funds for diabetes research and information on diabetes. It is a non-profit health organization, which conducts its programs all over the United States, in order to reach the thousands of people affected by the disease. Its mission is to prevent, control, and cure diabetes with a view to improving the quality of life of all the people affected by the malady. In pursuance of the fulfillment of its mission, the American Diabetes Association also publishes the scientific findings on diabetes. It is a source of in-depth information on diabetes and a variety of related services for diabetes patients, their caregivers and health professionals, and for the public in general.

In the last year alone, the association was approached by over 350,000 people for answers to various questions about diabetes and for support and guidance in the management of the ailment.

The American Diabetes Association generates its resources for its programs through public contributions. In order to prevent any misuse of these resources, the Association's website http://www.diabetes.org/aboutus.jsp? WTLPromo=HEADER_aboutus&vms=229388477133 provides a way to report any dishonest or fraudulent use of its resources.

Diabetes Educator: A diabetes educator is a healthcare professional who specializes in the subject to educate people about the ways and means to manage the condition. The United States National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) conducts an examination leading to the CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) certification. This is not a stand-alone certification, but is a credential for certifying the special expertise/skills with respect to diabetes education, management and care of health professionals already possessing certification in their respective fields. Such professional may be registered nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, physicians, dieticians, etc., who are duly licensed and legally eligible to practice in their respective fields under US laws. The CDE certification is valid for five years after which it must be renewed. The criteria for certification are determined by the NCBDE and keep changing from time to time. The NCBDE has no fixed courses that are required in order to become eligible for the CDE certification, nor does it recommend any educational or other institution conducting any such programs or courses.

Recommendations of the American Diabetes Association about carbohydrates in the diabetic diet: Prior to the discovery of insulin, experts recommended a low calorie diet for diabetics. And carbohydrates that were considered undesirable for diabetics were to be avoided, or taken in moderate quantities. In the 50’s, the US Public Health Service and the American Diabetes Association together introduced an ‘Exchange Scheme’, according to which people could swap foods that have similar nutritional value. For example, if pudding was preferred, but there was a fear of high carbohydrate intake, this could be balanced out by cutting down on potatoes in the first course of the meal, to maintain an overall carbohydrate intake that was recommended for diabetics. There have since been many revisions to this exchange scheme subsequent to ongoing diabetes related research.

In 1994, the American Diabetes Association made a recommendation of seventy percent of caloric intake as carbohydrates in the diabetic diet, while some others capped it at forty percent. Still others said seventy five percent was better. All this is in sharp deviation from the earlier beliefs about the role of carbohydrates in diabetes.

Diabetes in African Americans: The available statistics of the American Diabetes Association indicate that a higher percentage of African Americans are affected by diabetes as compared to the general population. It shows that 3.2 million African Americans, aged twenty years or above, are diabetic. Also, that the African American population is 1.8 times more likely to contract diabetes than non-Hispanic whites.