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| Historical Summary | |
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Historical Summary
 The Portuguese Diabetes Association has led the fight against diabetes in Portugal since it was established in 1926. Its founder, Dr. Ernesto Roma, had just been to the Joslin Clinic and was present during the first clinical trials of insulin. He was so impressed by the excellent results obtained that, back in Lisbon, he decided to create the first association of diabetic patients in the world, with the aim of supplying free insulin to poor diabetics.
These early charitable concerns were soon followed by other objectives, mainly in the area of diabetes education. The earliest lectures given by Dr. Roma to the association´s patients became well known, covering matters like diet, foot-care, self-control and others. Diabetic education, half a century before the impulse given to it by Jean-Philippe Assal, was already a common practice at the Portuguese Diabetes Association. Public opinion was informed about diabetes and its prevention as well as the avoidance of late complications. The integration of diabetics in society, avoiding professional or other forms of discrimination was also a main objective. In 1931 the first Bulletin of the Association was published, to provide diabetes information for the membership and public opinion. Today it is called "Diabetes-Living in Equilibrium" and a summary of its latest issue can be consulted in this page. Today, more than 30,000 diabetics seek out the services of the Association. It is now a modern health institution, a reference in diabetes care for the whole country, with training and research activities, and simultaneously an association for the defense of diabetics´rights and interests. |
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