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.
Doug Dressman,
Executive Director, Joins
DESA
"I am excited about this opportunity to serve as the Executive
Director of DESA. We have unbelievable potential to serve
people with diabetes by showing them not only the role that
exercise and physical fitness plays in managing their disease,
but how they can realize their dreams as an athlete."
Doug Dressman is a Cincinnati
native who started his non-profit career with Junior Achievement
of Greater Cincinnati. After four years with JA, Doug moved
on to the Arthritis Foundation's Southwest Ohio Chapter and
served as Development Director for four years before moving
to Louisville where he lives with his wife Lorie and their
two children, Nick, 21 and Lindsey 17.
In Louisville he worked as Executive
Director of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Diabetes
Association for 7 ½ years before joining the Southern Region
Staff as Community Development Vice President. Two years later
he joined ADA's national office staff as the National Director,
Priority Special Events, in the Field Campaign Department.
After 12 years service with ADA he joined the National MS
Society in March 2004. Doug spent 3 ½ years as the Kentucky
Chapter President, National MS Society. In addition he served
on the Chapter President's Council and Shared Services Advisory
Council during his tenure.
Both Doug and his wife Lorie have
Type 2 diabetes and value the role of exercise, physical fitness,
and nutrition in treating and managing diabetes. His passion
is soccer and he referees high school and club soccer matches.
Doug's son Nick plays soccer at Northern Kentucky University.
Lindsey, his daughter, is a high school cheerleader in Goshen,
Kentucky.
