International Diabetes Federation - Children & Young People
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) [1] is an umbrella organisation of over 230 national diabetes associations in 170 countries and territories. IDF’s mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. It is engaged in action to tackle diabetes at the local and global level, its activities ranging from community programmes to worldwide awareness and advocacy initiatives. The Federation’s work aims to influence policy, increase public awareness and encourage health improvement, promote the exchange of high-quality information about diabetes, and provide education for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers [2]. The Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KIDS) project, for instance, aims to foster a supportive school environment that creates a better understanding of diabetes. The KIDS information pack is divided into sections for teachers, parents of children with diabetes etc, and is meant to be used alongside an educational session [3]. Likewise, the Young Leaders in Diabetes programme (YLD) strives to enhance the lives of young people living with diabetes. It does this by being a voice for young people affected by diabetes worldwide, identifying and supporting the development of Young Leaders in the international diabetes community, empowering and educating them to support the mission of YLD and IDF [4].