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

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

History of IDAA / DESA:
Paula Harper, a registered nurse, founded the International Diabetic Athletes Association in 1985.  At that time, Paula had type I 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 US to the entire US, Canada and Western Europe.  It was pretty amazing to have participants at the first international meeting in Arizona from 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 and Italy.

The mission and goals of IDAA have changed little since our inception.  They are regularly reviewed and agreed upon by our Boards, both the North American and International.  We are here to support and encourage exercise among all people with diabetes.  We seek members with type I, 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.

IDAA 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 bike ride in Arizona.  Our meetings and conferences are essential parts of our mission and have been made possible due to the generous support of LifeScan Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, Animas and MediSense, Inc.

In 2000, it was decided by the IDAA board of directors to change our name to Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association.  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.

Support for DESA continues to grow.  We expect to expand staff, add chapters and provide more member benefits over the coming years.  We hope that in most respects DESA's history has just begun.