Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA)

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Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA)

About Us

Mission Statement:
Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA) exists to enhance the quality of life for people with diabetes through exercise and physical fitness.

Our Objectives:
1. Educate people of all ages with diabetes and their health care providers about the role of exercise in enhancing health.

2. Create opportunities for those with diabetes to participate in a broad range of recreational, sport and athletic activities.

3. Enhance self-care and self management skills among sports-minded individuals with diabetes.

4. Promote networking, support and sharing of experiences among physically active people with diabetes.

5. Improve clinical skills among health professionals working with active individuals with diabetes.

6. Inform and educate coaches, trainers, parents and others supporting active individuals with diabetes.

7. Provide a forum for exchanging information and access to resources and role models.

8. DESA will act as the Diabetes and Exercise experts.

History of IDAA / DESA:
Paula Harper, a registered nurse, founded the International Diabetic Athletes Association (IDAA) in 1985. At that time, Paula had type 1 diabetes for thirteen years and was heavily involved in distance running and cycling. Even though she herself was a medical professional, she found it difficult to find solid information on how to integrate exercise into her diabetes management. In those days before blood glucose monitors were available, most physicians recommended that individuals with diabetes not participate in endurance events such as marathons or 100-mile bike races.

After Paula's fifth marathon race in 1980, she had the words "I run on insulin" printed on the back of a t-shirt. She soon found others doing the same thing…trial and error! She met people like Charlie Clark and Bill Carlson who have both completed the Iron Man triathlon several times. It wasn't long before Paula developed a small network of individuals with diabetes who were involved in regular exercise and who wanted to share experiences, pass on information and offer each other support. Paula wanted to expand this network and it quickly grew from the southwestern section of the country to the entire United States, Canada and Western Europe.
New paragraph The first international meeting of IDAA was held in Arizona with participants from across the United States, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France and England. Kindred spirits with similar situations were found to be looking for the same answers. In the next few years, chapters were added in Spain, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands and Australia and others are forming. International IDAA meetings have been held in Spain, Italy, The Netherlands and Canada.

In 2000, the IDAA Board of Directors voted to change the organizations name to Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA). IDAA had become a household name with athletes throughout the US and Europe, however, our mission was to promote exercise to all people with diabetes. Thus the board felt it necessary to change the name to include this important aspect of our organization.

The mission and goals of IDAA/DESA have changed little since our inception. They are regularly reviewed and agreed upon by both the North American and International boards of directors. We are here to support and encourage exercise among all people with diabetes. We seek members with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes and those who offer them medical care and advice. We use athlete and athletics in the broadest sense and uphold the efforts of "mall walkers" as well as Olympic level athletes.

DESA is a grass roots organization that Paula ran out of her home for years. Funding comes from membership dues, donations from individuals and corporations and one fundraiser, an annual golf tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Our meetings and conferences are essential parts of our mission and have been made possible due to the generous support of a number of pharmaceutical and medical device companies including LifeScan Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Animas and Medtronic.

Support for DESA continues to grow. We have hired an executive director, and plan to add chapters and provide more member benefits over the coming years. We hope that in most respects DESA's history has just begun.

DESA

10216 Taylorsville Road, Suite 900
Louisville, KY 40299
Toll Free: 1-800-898-4322
Fax: (502) 261-8346
General Questions:
desa@diabetes-exercise.org