Living with Diabetes

In June, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had settled with SFX Entertainment, also known as Clear Channel, on the issue of diabetes supplies at its concert venues.

The settlement will allow people with diabetes to be able to keep their medical supplies and food with them at concert venues operated by SFX. The company had previously prohibited people with diabetes from keeping their lancets for blood glucose testing or insulin syringes with them at its venues. This was a huge problem for people with diabetes because SFX is the largest concert promoter in the world.

The American Diabetes Association began to hear about problems with SFX two years ago and encouraged people who had experienced problems to talk to DOJ. Many did, including Jim Radermacher from Illinois, who became one of the main complainants in the lawsuit and subsequently one of the Association's most ardent advocates ("The Unexpected Activist", May 2003 Diabetes Forecast).

The settlement reflects the hard work undertaken by advocates, legal experts and health care professionals of the American Diabetes Association. The Association worked closely throughout the case with both the DOJ and SFX to explain the medical needs of people with diabetes.

"This victory represents incredible teamwork and determination by the Association's staff and advocates," stated Stewart Perry, Chair of the National Advocacy Committee for the Association. "Thanks must go out to DOJ and Jim Radermacher for sticking to their guns, and to volunteers Dr. Stephen Sears and Dr. Pat Boyle and the Association’s Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Dr. Nathaniel Clark, for the medical expertise they lent to DOJ."