Advocacy

Advocacy Priorities

Learn about the American Diabetes Association's (ADA's) priorities that impact the diabetes community.

Access to adequate and affordable health care:

  • Ensure all people with and at risk for diabetes are covered under public and private health insurance including, but not limited to, plans under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and state-mandated benefits that provide adequate and affordable access to the medications, tools, education, and health care necessary to meet the ADA’s Standards of Care in Diabetes.
  • Oppose weakening of existing protections for people with diabetes and prediabetes in federal and state law.
  • Make insulin affordable and accessible for all who need it and require transparency throughout the insulin supply chain.

Diabetes research, programs, and innovation:

  • Increase overall funding dedicated to diabetes research, programs, and clinical translation of research, including, but not limited to:
    • The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health
    • The Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    • The Special Diabetes Program for type 1 research and programs in American Indian/Alaska Native communities
    • The National Diabetes Prevention Program to support community-based programs to prevent type 2 diabetes, including in disparately impacted communities
    • Diabetes research and prevention programs in states and
    • Innovative funding for diabetes research and programs.
  • Protect and expand research opportunities.
  • Provide scientific expertise to regulators on issues related to diabetes and the need for improved means to treat, monitor, and prevent diabetes.

Discrimination:

  • Ensure students with diabetes are medically safe and have access to the same educational opportunities as peers without diabetes.
  • Ensure laws and policies for private and commercial driver’s licenses result in fair treatment of people with diabetes.
  • Ensure fair treatment of employees with diabetes.
  • Ensure fair treatment of people with diabetes accessing places of public accommodation and public services.

Health equity:

  • Promote health equity among at-risk populations affected by diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Address diabetes-related social determinants of health.

Prevention:

  • Assess and address the burden of diabetes and prediabetes.
  • Reduce obesity, improve nutrition, address food insecurity, and increase physical activity in communities.