History

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi (DFM) was chartered in Mississippi in 1965 as the Diabetes Association of Mississippi by a group of local Mississippi physicians to disseminate information about diabetes and disease management to health professionals throughout the Magnolia State.

In the 1970s, we joined with a national group, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and became the Mississippi affiliate of the ADA.

On February 10, 1998, the Board of Directors voted to break away from the ADA and return to our roots as the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. This change allowed the DFM to expand our services at the grassroots level. As a result, every donation raised here stays in our state to better serve Mississippians living with diabetes by providing programs and services statewide.

The overall goal of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi is to care for the 373,000 Mississippians who have diabetes through a wide range of services and programs. The DFM accomplishes this goal through support of comprehensive statewide diabetes education and informational programs; assisting families with newly diagnosed children; sponsoring Camp Kandu for children with diabetes and their families; providing camperships for Camp Hopewell in Mississippi and other diabetes camps; sponsoring educational programs for people with diabetes and health professionals; promoting campaigns to increase diabetes prevention, awareness and advocacy for all Mississippians with diabetes and providing direct patient services for needy families.

The Foundation publishes and distributes a quarterly newsletter, the Monitor, for its members. DFM members also receive the journal Diabetes Self-Management, and invitations to attend statewide meetings with nationally recognized experts in the field of diabetes.

The DFM partners with many organizations in Mississippi including The Delta Regional Institute at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi State Department of Health, Mississippi Hospital Association, Mississippi Association of Diabetes Educators (Miss-ADE), Mississippi Department of Education, Mississippi Private School Association, The Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), Mississippi Alliance for School Health (MASH), the Mississippi Chronic Illness Coalition, the University of Mississippi, The Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, the Delta Health Cooperative, the Mississippi Dietetic Association, the Mississippi Pharmacy Association, County Extension offices, Lions Clubs, area hospitals, churches, business leaders, legal professionals, physicians, community leaders and volunteers.