LATVIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION
AWARENESS     SUPPORT     EMPOWERMENT

LATVIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION –                                                               PARTNER OF DIABETES PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS
Latvian Diabetes Association is a non-governmental organisation that unites diabetes patients, health care professionals and all good-will people who support diabetes patients and are willing to improve the diabetes care situation in Latvia.

The Latvian Diabetes Association was founded in 1993 and has many branches and support groups throughout Latvia. 

The Latvian Diabetes Association has developed the first Diabetes Control Diary in Latvia that was also the first such diary in Latvian. The Association was the initiator and organiser of the first World Diabetes Day in Latvia and continues to manage these events every year. 

All the staff at the Latvian Diabetes Association are volunteers. Health professionals and diabetes patients in the Association are co-operating closely to achieve the aims of the Association. 

LATVIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION OFFERS FOR EVERY RESIDENT OF LATVIA

•	Information about healthy lifestyle
•	Information about factors increasing the risk to get diabetes and the first symptoms of diabetes
•	Possibility for check blood glucose, cholesterol level, blood pressure and body weight 
•	Popular publications in general and health-related periodicals, internet portals, radio and TV broadcasts
•	Informative materials about diabetes for everybody, library and videos library

INFORMATION, SUPPORT, ADVOCACY – FOR DIABETES PATIENTS

•	Printed materials and informative materials on various topics on how to live with diabetes prepared and developed by the Latvian Diabetes Association 
•	Books, magazines and videos in various languages from the library of the Association
•	Counselling on rights of diabetes patients, their support and advocacy 
•	Events of the World Diabetes Day, meetings, lectures 
•	Possibility for check blood glucose, cholesterol level and body weight 

LATVIAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION OFFERS TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

•	Guidelines for Care and Treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Patients developed by Latvian Diabetes Association
•	Professional international magazines from the library of the Association
•	Materials and publications for medical professionals prepared by Association
•	Lectures, information and special events for health care professionals, pharmacists, social workers and other different professional groups

ONLY TOGETHER WE CAN BECOME A POWER THAT IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT!

AWARENESS. The most important activity of the Latvian Diabetes Association is the widely attended World Diabetes Day events and activities, held in November every year. Usually the related activities last for the whole month, so this may be called as a "diabetes month”. During the World Diabetes Day events, blood glucose level, blood pressure, body weight can be checked, as well as counselling on diabetes by various specialists is also available. Various informative materials are distributed. Exhibitions, concerts, lectures, presentations of books, test-tasting of healthy foods, charity lotteries are also organised. That’s why these events are attracting a lot of visitors (about 2000 people in Riga alone). During the World Diabetes Days organized by the Latvian Diabetes Association, high blood glucose level is detected every year. 

SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY. At the office of the Latvian Diabetes Association in Riga and its regional branches, specially trained diabetes patients – the most active members of the Association – provide information, knowledge, counselling on diabetes care resources, give emotional support, as well as provide the opportunity to share emotions and experiences. 
The Latvian Diabetes Association provides practical protection of diabetes patients’ rights. The Association protects patients’ rights concerning state-reimbursed endocrinologists’ consultations and examinations, availability of insulin preparations, reimbursement of self-control equipment, obtaining driving licence and other problems. In order to protect interests of diabetes patients, the Association organises signature gathering campaigns, submits proposals for amendment of legislative acts, takes part in working groups elaborating draft legislative acts, meets ministers and other public officials, as well as experts and representatives of the international organizations (WHO, etc).

Find out more about the Latvian Diabetes Association! 
Latvian Diabetes Association. 133, Kr.Barona Str., Rīga, LV-1012. LATVIA
Phone +371-67378231 E-mail: latvdiab@latnet.lv