Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

SELF-MANAGEMENT EDUCATION & SUPPORT: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT| 11-95

• To fulfill an advocacy role for Canadians with diabetes. • To provide an organization that supports diabetes education and diabetes educators in their practice. • To proactively influence and shape policies regarding the practice of diabetes education. • To promote research related to the practice of diabetes education and to support innovation and creativity. The Professional Section has chapters all over Canada that meet on a regular basis to share concerns, information and support clinical practice. Through the efforts of committed expert volunteers, its success continues to grow. Physicians, researchers, educators and other health professionals concerned with diabetes research and clinical care have come together in a leadership role in organizing continuing medical education activities in diabetes and in advocating for improvement in the quality of life for people affected by diabetes (1). Please refer to the Diabetes Canada website (www.diabetes.ca) for further information. In Europe, representatives of government health departments and patient organizations met under the aegis of the regional offices of the World Health Organization (WHO) in St. Vincent, Italy, out of concern for the growing threat to health and quality of life posed by diabetes mellitus. The group, referred to as “St. Vincent”, is a joint activity of the WHO, Regional Office for Europe, and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) (European Region). St. Vincent recognized that prevention and early intervention would lead to enormous human and economic savings. Its goal in organizing was to create an environment and implement activities that will reduce the burden of diabetes. The St. Vincent Declaration identifies goals and objectives toward that end. St. Vincent working groups have cropped up throughout Europe, many devoted to different aspects of the St. Vincent goals and objectives, some coming and going according to the needs, interests and expertise of members (2–4). • To represent Canada’s clinicians and scientists concerned with diabetes. • To provide a forum for communication and professional discussion. International initiatives The St. Vincent Declaration