Australian Diabetes Society

Welcome to the website of the Australian Diabetes Society

The Australian Diabetes Society is the peak medical and scientific body in Australia working towards improving the care and outcomes of people with diabetes.  It is an incorporated association and is made up of its members.

The Society was formally established at a meeting held at the Clunies Ross Centre in Melbourne on 9 October 1973 in conjunction with the Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.  In a time of rapid development in research in diabetes in Australia, it was agreed by senior leaders in the field, that a forum was needed for professionals interested in diabetes as diabetes representation in other endocrine based meetings was as little as 10%. 

The Society was formed to include a membership open to any medical graduate or scientist with a declared interest in diabetes, and subsequently to also include any individual with a primary role in professional diabetes care.  The membership requirements remain the same today.

The aims or ‘objects’ of the Society are to enhance the welfare of individuals who have diabetes mellitus, including:

• To promote among members of the medical profession, scientists and others the free exchange of knowledge with respect to diabetes mellitus
• To develop in association with Diabetes Australia and other interested bodies, education methods designed to give those who have diabetes mellitus a better understanding of their condition
• To improve standards of diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus
• To disseminate accurate information about diabetes mellitus
• To promote research related to diabetes mellitus by individuals, hospitals, clinics, universities and other institutions and organisations
• To be responsible for statements relating to the professional and research aspects of diabetes mellitus (both medical and scientific)
• To take such other measures and encourage such service as will enhance the welfare of individuals having diabetes mellitus.

The Society’s major focus has always been the annual scientific meeting (ASM).  The Society continues to host the ASM in conjunction with the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA), attracting in excess of 1,000 delegates and rotating around the major centres of Australia, and from time to time also meeting in New Zealand. The ASM continues to attract health professionals Australia-wide and from overseas.  This forum promotes the exchange of the latest clinical practices and cutting edge research in diabetes with State-of-the-Art lectures, free communication sessions and clinical, scientific and educational symposia. The Kellion Lecturer is the premier award speaker at the ASM.

We invite you to view our website and join our quest to provide best practice care and research to enhance the welfare of people with diabetes mellitus.