Creating Awareness - Bullet Points for President

Although organized in 2008, this RAG benefits from:

Directorate: Includes: Martin Silink, current president of International Diabetes Federation which represents 192 Diabetes Associations in 162 countries. During 6 yr term, visited every continent and many countries. Larry Deeb, former President, American Diabetes Assoc and current head IDF Task Force on Insulin, Massimo Bennedetti, PDG in Italy, and head Diabetes Research Institute in Kuwait, Wayne Edwards, PDG, key organizer of RAG, and key presenter at Rotary Day in UN. Individuals will continue to play major role in world scene for diabetes for years to come.

Engagement in RI structure: Currently RAG members have matching grants for children with diabetes in 3 countries, Bolivia, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Rotarians are active in projects in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Commitments are in place to provide insulin to 25,000 additional children and to raise the potential to 40 countries by 2012.(Lack of insulin is the leading cause of death for children with diabetes worldwide) RAG members support at least 5 foot care projects in the Caribbean through the matching grant process. The program is a model for IDF and has obtained further support to expand within Rotary. (diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic amputations worldwide). This RAG has in place established models which new members can immediately activate in many sites.

Worldwide epidemic of diabetes: Diabetes affects more than 250 million worldwide and will increase in the next decades to well over 300 million. Developing countries are at greatest risk. Diabetes affects the affluent and aging populations. This is also the Rotary demographic. Rotarians are at specific risk to develop diabetes and therefore have individual interest in this RAG and programs to reduce the burden of diabetes worldwide.

RAGDiabetes has come onto the Rotary and world scene at a time when the leadership, programs and epidemic of diabetes are aligned to help Rotary International become a leader in diabetes awareness as well as treatment and prevention.