Mission Statement
Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association (DESA) exists to enhance the quality of life for people with diabetes through exercise and physical fitness.
Objectives
- Educate people of all ages with diabetes and their health care providers about the role of exercise in enhancing health.
- Create opportunities for those with diabetes to participate in a broad range of recreational, sport and athletic activities.
- Enhance self-care and self management skills among sports-minded individuals with diabetes.
- Promote networking, support and sharing of experiences among physically active people with diabetes.
- Improve clinical skills among health professionals working with active individuals with diabetes.
- Inform and educate coaches, athletic trainers, parents and others supporting active individuals with diabetes.
- Provide a forum for exchanging information and access to resources and role models.
- DESA will act as the Diabetes and Exercise experts.
Target Audiences
- The physically active and sports-minded individual that has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- The physically inactive, but sports-minded, individual that has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- The individual with type 2 diabetes that could/should employ some form of exercise or physical activity to assist in the treatment and management of their diabetes, in order to improve their overall health.
- The individual with "pre-diabetes" that may be able to prevent diabetes by exercising.
- Health care professionals, athletic trainers, coaches, family and others supporting physically active individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.