Research Provides Hope For Thousands Living With Type 1 Diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 07 Oct 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation dedicated to finding the cure for the condition and its complications

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research worldwide, today called for more recognition of the progress being made in finding the cure for this condition. The charity, the only organisation in the world with the primary goal of finding the cure for type 1 diabetes, said that research is vital to ensure that people affected by the condition have a better quality of life through innovations in treatment.

Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, commented:
"JDRF fully supports all efforts to raise awareness of the complications and seriousness of type 1 diabetes. It is also important to offer everybody living with the condition hope that the cure is coming. JDRF exists to find that cure and we believe that it is now only a question of time and money. That is why last year we spent £70 million on more than 700 research projects around the world."

Type 1 diabetes affects approximately 350,000 people in the UK, 20,000 of them children. The life threatening condition has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. With incidences rising in children under five by around four per cent each year, it is becoming increasingly urgent that the cure is found.

Continuing, Ms Addington said: "Type 1 diabetes is a condition that attacks indiscriminately and presents many challenges for those living with it, including the devastating complications that can arise. That is why we fund research into preventing these complications, and strive to deliver the breakthroughs in treatment that make it easier to manage type 1 diabetes and improve quality of life. The more research we are able to fund, the faster we will find the cure "

A significant part of JDRF's research is focussed on understanding how type 1 diabetes causes complications and on developing treatments that will stop or reverse their impact. In the last year alone JDRF has announced new funding for research looking at ways to prevent retinopathy, cardiovascular and kidney disease and neuropathy.

Every year around £2.5 billion is spent on treating type 1 diabetes and its complications, but if we enable people living with the condition to control it more effectively, this will greatly reduce the burden on an already overstretched NHS.

JDRF funds research into finding ways to improve the control people with type 1 diabetes have over their blood glucose levels. At the recent prestigious EASD conference in Rome, JDRF announced initial results of a clinical trial that show that people with type 1 diabetes who use continuous glucose monitoring devices to help manage their condition experience significant improvements in blood sugar control. This groundbreaking research, the first independent trial of its type, should lead the way to better access to this technology for people with type 1 diabetes. This technology is currently only funded by the NHS in exceptional circumstances.

The artificial pancreas is one of JDRF's key studies. Researchers are working to perfect a closed loop system that will enable an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor to "talk" to each other. Trials are currently taking place testing whether blood sugar levels can be monitored and insulin administered without the need for human intervention. If successful the artificial pancreas will put an end to multiple daily insulin injections and finger prick blood tests.

In conclusion, Ms Addington said: "None of this amazing research could happen without the generosity of our supporters. We hope that everyone affected by type 1 diabetes will be reassured to know that JDRF is absolutely committed to finding the cure for type 1 diabetes."

About type 1 diabetes

- Type 1 diabetes is a serious, life threatening condition caused by the body's own immune system destroying insulin producing cells in the pancreas.

- Insulin is vital because it converts glucose from food into energy and a lack of insulin quickly results in serious illness and, if untreated, death.

- Type 1 diabetes strikes suddenly and without warning, usually in childhood and remains for life.

- Multiple daily insulin injections and blood tests are essential just to stay alive but are not a cure and can not prevent the long term, potentially devastating complications including blindness, limb amputations, kidney failure, heart disease and strokes.

- Every year around £2.5 billion is spent on treating type 1 diabetes and its complications.

About JDRF

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is the leading charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research worldwide. JDRF has been responsible for more than £600 million direct funding of the most promising and groundbreaking type 1 diabetes research around the world.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation