Diabetes Leadership Council

What Diabetes Leadership Council does

The Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC, d/b/a National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization incorporated in the United States with EIN 46-3571905 and headquartered in Lexington. Founded in 1995, the organization unites former leaders of national diabetes organizations — including people with diabetes, parents of children with diabetes, and allied volunteers — to advocate for effective, affordable, and equitable care for the 37 million Americans with diabetes and approximately 90 million with prediabetes. Its operational scope is U.S.-domestic and focused exclusively on federal and state policy advocacy, not commercial product or service delivery.

DLC does not develop or sell technology products. Its core deliverables are policy outputs: whitepapers and policy briefs (e.g., on insulin affordability, Medicare coverage of CGM and insulin pumps, PBM reform, obesity treatment access, and patient choice in diabetes technology), Congressional briefings featuring members of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, formal regulatory comment letters to CMS and HHS, and joint advocacy statements with affiliated coalitions. Underlying activities are organized around mission programs spanning Healthcare Reform, Insulin Costs, Insurance Literacy, Congressional Briefing, and Policy Tools, supported by an Industry Advisory Board providing grant funding.

DLC's business model is grant-funded nonprofit advocacy. It does not sell products or services with set pricing. Operating revenue derives from grants and Industry Advisory Board contributions from major pharmaceutical and device manufacturers (Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Merck, PhRMA, Dexcom, Insulet, Sanofi, Viatris) while retaining full editorial and strategic independence. The organization operates at a small scale (11-50 employees) and amplifies its influence through participation in 12+ policy coalitions, including the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, Diabetes Technology Access Coalition, PBM Accountability Project, and Obesity Care Advocacy Network, and through a closely affiliated organization, the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC), with which it shares a CEO.

Name

Diabetes Leadership Council

Legal name

National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council

Website

https://diabetesleadership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Diabetes Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) patient advocacy nonprofit uniting former leaders of national diabetes organizations to drive federal and state policy on insulin affordability, Medicare coverage of diabetes technology, PBM reform, and obesity treatment access for the 37 million Americans with diabetes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Healthcare Policy

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Program Grants Management & Administration (HLAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC), Diabetes (General) (HLAKADAA)

Keywords

• Diabetes policy advocacy
• Patient advocacy nonprofit
• Healthcare policy reform
• Diabetes access to care
• Patient education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Diabetes Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit patient advocacy organization that engages in policy advocacy, stakeholder education, and coalition-building to reduce barriers to affordable, accessible, and equitable diabetes care. It convenes former leaders of national diabetes organizations to drive policy outcomes on insulin affordability, Medicare coverage of diabetes technologies, PBM reform, and obesity treatment access, and operates programs aimed at policymakers, employers, and the broader diabetes community.

Product overview

The Diabetes Leadership Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit patient advocacy organization that does not offer commercial products or services. It engages in policy advocacy, publishes whitepapers and policy briefs on diabetes-related issues, and works with allied organizations to advance its mission of securing effective, affordable healthcare for people with diabetes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employer Solutions Program

Quantifiable outcome

• DLC's advocacy contributed to the INSULIN Act of 2026 introduced by Sens. Shaheen, Collins, Warnock, and Kennedy to extend the $35 insulin cap to the private insurance market.
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• American Diabetes Association (ADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with ADA on topics of mutual interest to their patient communities. ADA is one of the most prominent national diabetes organizations, and the partnership enables coordinated advocacy on shared policy priorities including insulin affordability, healthcare access, and diabetes technology coverage.
• Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with ADCES on topics of mutual interest to their patient communities. ADCES represents diabetes care and education specialists, enabling DLC to incorporate clinical expertise in its policy advocacy.
• Beyond Type 1coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with Beyond Type 1 on topics of mutual interest, particularly advocacy for people with Type 1 diabetes. Beyond Type 1 focuses on education, advocacy, and community for the T1D population.
• Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with CBDCE on topics of mutual interest. CBDCE sets certification standards for diabetes care and education specialists, contributing clinical and professional expertise to DLC's policy work.
• Children with DiabetescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with Children with Diabetes on topics of mutual interest, particularly serving families of children with diabetes through coordinated advocacy for access to care and technology.
• College Diabetes NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with the College Diabetes Network to support college-aged individuals with diabetes through advocacy and policy work addressing their specific access and care challenges.
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC and DPAC are closely affiliated organizations. DLC CEO George Huntley also serves as CEO of DPAC. They jointly issue press releases, policy statements, and advocacy letters on legislation and regulation affecting people with diabetes, including insulin affordability, PBM reform, Medicare coverage, and obesity treatment access.
• DiabetesSisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with DiabetesSisters on topics of mutual interest, providing a women-focused perspective on diabetes advocacy and policy addressing gender-specific access and care challenges.
• JDRFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) on topics of mutual interest, particularly advocating for Type 1 diabetes research funding, technology access, and healthcare policy affecting T1D patients.
• T1D ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with T1D Exchange on topics of mutual interest, leveraging T1D Exchange's research data and patient registry to support evidence-based diabetes policy advocacy.
• diaTribe FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC partners with the diaTribe Foundation on topics of mutual interest, combining diaTribe's educational content and patient outreach with DLC's policy advocacy efforts.
• Diabetes Advocacy AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC is a member of the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, a coalition of organizations working to influence diabetes-related policy at the federal level. The coalition coordinates advocacy efforts on shared priorities including research funding, access to care, and healthcare reform.
• Diabetes Technology Access CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC is a member of the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition, which submitted a reconsideration request for Medicare National Coverage Determination 280.14 on insulin pumps. The coalition advocates for expanded Medicare coverage of CGM, insulin pumps, and AID systems.
• PBM Accountability ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC participates in the PBM Accountability Project coalition, working to hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable and push for reforms that pass rebate savings to patients at the pharmacy counter.
• Obesity Care Advocacy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLC participates in the Obesity Care Advocacy Network, a coalition dedicated to expanding access to obesity treatments including GLP-1 medications, intensive behavioral therapy, and medical nutrition therapy through improved insurance coverage.
• Novo NordiskminorOthersNovo Nordisk is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• Eli Lilly and CompanyminorOthersEli Lilly is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• Janssen PharmaceuticalsminorOthersJanssen Pharmaceuticals is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• MerckminorOthersMerck is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• PhRMAminorOthersPhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• DexcomminorOthersDexcom is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• InsuletminorOthersInsulet is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• SanofiminorOthersSanofi is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.
• ViatrisminorOthersViatris is a member of DLC's Industry Advisory Board and provides grant support for DLC's mission activities. DLC retains full control of strategic decisions, direction, and editorial content.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children with Diabetes: Diabetes advocacy and education nonprofit focused on children with diabetes and their families. Named DLC coalition partner with complementary focus on access to care and technology for pediatric populations.
• T1D Exchange: Type 1 diabetes research and patient registry nonprofit generating real-world evidence on T1D outcomes. Named DLC coalition partner whose clinical and patient-reported data directly informs DLC's evidence-based policy positions.
• Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES): Professional membership organization representing diabetes care and education specialists. Named DLC coalition partner, contributing clinical expertise to policy advocacy on insulin access, technology coverage, and care delivery reform.
• JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation): The leading global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, pursuing federal funding, technology access, and CGM/AID coverage. Directly comparable to DLC's Type 1 diabetes policy priorities and explicitly named as a DLC coalition partner.
• American Diabetes Association: The largest US diabetes-focused nonprofit, funding research, advocacy, and education across Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Directly comparable to DLC as a peer advocacy organization pursuing many of the same policy goals (insulin affordability, CGM coverage, PBM reform), though operating at materially larger scale with a broader mission.
• Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC): Closely affiliated patient advocacy organization sharing the same CEO (George Huntley) and pursuing the same federal policy priorities as DLC. The most direct operational peer — DLC and DPAC regularly co-issue press releases, policy statements, and advocacy letters.
• DiabetesSisters: Nonprofit providing women-focused diabetes education, peer support, and advocacy. Named DLC coalition partner with overlapping mission on access, affordability, and gender-specific diabetes policy issues.
• diaTribe Foundation: Diabetes-focused nonprofit producing patient education content and advocacy on insulin access, CGM/AID, and obesity care. Named DLC coalition partner and explicitly complementary in mission — diaTribe provides patient education while DLC focuses on policy translation.
• Beyond Type 1: Type 1 diabetes education, advocacy, and community nonprofit serving patients and families. Named DLC coalition partner with overlapping focus on T1D technology access and insurance coverage advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• American Heart Association: One of the largest US chronic-disease advocacy nonprofits, with a portfolio spanning research, lobbying, and public health campaigns. Broader incumbent than DLC — overlapping only where diabetes intersects cardiovascular disease (obesity, prediabetes) — but highly comparable in advocacy operating model, federal lobbying footprint, and large-industry funding structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DiabetesLeaders
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVv9aivD7r12FrC_FEH-ktQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diabetes-leadership-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Diabetes Leadership Council