The national public health initiative on diabetes and women's health: Leading the way for women with and at risk for diabetes

Diabetes is a serious public health problem in the United States. The burden of the disease has had a significant impact on individuals, communities, and society at large, and the number of people with diabetes is expected to double by the year 2025. In response to the growing burden of the disease and the profound health consequences for women and their offspring, the National Public Health Initiative on Diabetes and Women's Health convened a call-to-action conference to form a collective effort to address diabetes and women's health issues. This paper documents the process of developing a call-to-action conference and identifying potential stakeholders and presents results from the conference and the accomplishments of the National Public Health Initiative on Diabetes and Women's Health.