About American Diabetes Association (ADA)
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a United States-based nonprofit organization that aims to provide awareness on diabetes and help people living with it by funding research programs for a better cure and management. It is a network of more than 565,000 volunteers, a professional society of over 16,000 healthcare professionals, and 250 staff members.
American Diabetes Association History
In 1940, the ADA was founded by six physicians during their annual meeting of the American College of Physicians. These physicians include Dr. Herman O. Mosenthal, Dr. Joseph T. Beardwood Jr., Dr. Joseph H. Barach, and Dr. E. S. Dilion.
In the following years, the ADA hosted sessions and had nearly 20,000 members. Years later, especially in the early 2000s, the organization closed a three-year sponsorship with one of the world’s largest multinational confectionary companies – Cadbury.
Let’s take a look at the timeline of ADA since its foundation in 1940.
April 2, 1940 – ADA was born. A total of 12 delegates attended a committee meeting to establish a National Diabetes Association in Cleveland, Ohio.
1947 – The ADA opened the first diabetes camp. This was for the children in Montgomery, Alabama.
1948 – The ADA launched Diabetes Forecast (formerly called ADA Forecast) as a quarterly magazine for people with diabetes.
1950 – The diabetes exchange system was developed. This system follows guidelines involving the proper division of foods.
Note: In the years between 1950 – 1987, diabetes advancements occurred. It includes the introduction of the first successful pancreas transplant, the development of the first disposable plastic syringe and the first wearable insulin pump. During these years, the FDA (Food and Drugs Association) approved the first synthetic human insulin, and the first insulin pen was introduced.
1986 – 1987 – The ADA launched the first National Standards for Diabetes Patient Education and the Education Recognition Program.
1989 – The Standards of Care for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus was published.
1996 – Diabetes.org was launched and served as a diabetes information and help center guide.
In the year 2000s, a lot of improvement has been seen in the association. More celebrities have publicly declared their health status with diabetes, and more philanthropic acts have showered involving the ADA.
American Diabetes Association Purpose
The ADA has a vision of a “life free of diabetes and all its burden.” Its mission is “to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.” Its purposes are as follows:
- Funding research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes.
- Delivering services to hundreds of diabetes or non-diabetes communities.
- Providing objective and credible information about diabetes.
- Becoming the voice of people who are denied rights because of their condition.
American Diabetes Association Diet and Food List
Aside from the services the ADA offers, the association also includes proper guidelines for better health status. This involves the correct type of diet and food list that people with diabetes can consider. These are as follows:
Diabetes Plate Method
This plate method encompasses non-starchy vegetables, protein foods, and carbohydrate foods. Refer to the portions below:
Non-starchy vegetables – One-half (1/2) of the plate
Protein foods – One-quarter of the plate
Carbohydrates foods – Last quarter of the plate
Note: The ADA recommends adding fruits and healthy fats to your daily meal plan. Diabetes superfoods are highly recommended, which include foods with rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
The following are the most recommended superfoods for diabetes:
- Beans (kidney, pinto, navy, and black beans)
- Green leafy vegetables (spinach, collards, and kale)
- Citrus fruit (orange, lemons, and grapefruit)
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries)
- Fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna, trout, and herring)
- Nuts (walnuts and flax seeds)
- Whole grains (oats, quinoa, and farro)
- Milk and yogurt
- Tomatoes
