Insulin for Life Australia & Global is a not-for-profit organisation that collects and distributes insulin and other diabetes supplies that would otherwise be wasted. These are donated to recognised organisations in many countries, with agreed monitoring systems, on an ongoing, sustainable basis, and following emergencies. Recipient organisations include children’s diabetes camps, programs involving Australian medical students, Diabetes Associations and clinics.
 

In addition to the Insulin for Life (IFL) center in Australia, there are IFL affiliated centers in Austria, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA (click here for details). IFL Australia coordinates the collaborative activities of the 7 IFL affiliated centers (known as “IFL Global”), and helps start new ones. 

Members of the Insulin for Life Global network are:

Insulin for Life Australia (established 1999; started at a diabetes centre in 1984)
Insulin zum Leben Austria (established 2006)
Insulin for Life Canada (established 2010)
Insulin zum Leben Germany (established 2000)
Insulin for Life Luxembourg (established 2013)
Insulin for Life Netherlands (established 2009)
Insulin zum Leben Switzerland (established 2013)
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust-UK
(supplies program started 2002)
Insulin for Life USA (established 2003)

It was established in 1999 and it evolved from the 20-year program at the International Diabetes Institute, Australia.

Its objectives are to:
 

obtain insulin, syringes, test strips and other diabetes supplies
to donate these supplies to Diabetes Associations and other responsible organisations in countries in need on an ongoing basis
to encourage the development of similar programs elsewhere. IFL has affiliates in Europe and North America (click here for details)
help develop and implement sustainable improvements in insulin and other supplies in countries in need.


IFL Global collects and distributes each year about:

300,000 mls of insulin (equal to 30,000 x 10 ml vials, or 100,000 x 3 ml penfill cartridges)
6,000 boxes of blood glucose test strips (300,000 strips)
Blood glucose testing meters, insulin pens, pen needles and syringes.

These are sent in response to emergency requests, and as part of ongoing sustainable programs, and are valued at US$1.4 million each year. Operating costs are less than 5% of the value of the supplies. IFL partners with the International Diabetes Federation Life for a Child and Emergency Supplies programs. IFL Global is growing and needs financial and other support to help start new collection centres, and to pay for some of the transport and handling costs of sending the donated supplies.