The Bermuda Diabetes Association was formed in 1979 as a result in the high incidences of diabetes related complications that were being seen on the wards in the King Edward Memorial Hospital.
The founding members were: Joanne Dean, Kim Faries, Dr William Cooke, Deborah (Hollis) Jones, Janice Hollis, Michael Jones, Reginald Ming, Joseph Nixon, Edna Simmons, Glenda Stuart, Hazel Taylor and Joyce Weatherhead. Debbie Jones became the first president of the Bermuda Diabetes Association.
The aim and objections set out in the Articles of Association in 1979, remain the same today:
- to advance the education of persons living in Bermuda who have diabetes and of the Bermudian public generally in the nature of the disease of diabetes.
- to assist in the preservation and safeguarding of the health of persons in Bermuda who have diabetes and the prevention of problems resulting from the lack of awareness of the nature of the disease.
- to foster and encourage co-operation between and persons and/or voluntary organization operating in the sphere of health care and counseling in Bermuda and to promote, encourage or undertake organized research and experimental work.
The Association depends heavily on its volunteers to help with the majority of the work done in the community. The Association is depends heavily on contributions from the general public to run it many programs and is grateful to the community for its support of The Resouce Centre as it is able to provide some funding for programs.