by M. Marie Davis, Executive Director Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Metro Saint Louis/Greater Missouri Chapter
Thanks to significant research advances in recent years, people living with type 1 diabetes have received better treatments and therapies. Scientists have made headway in uncovering the possible cause of the disease, and in their efforts to find ways to prevent, treat, or reverse the autoimmune disease and its complications. Despite this progress, we still have a long road ahead of us to identify a cure that will eliminate type 1 diabetes once and for all.
Diabetes of all types continues to grow at an alarming rate - in the last 30 years, the number of people with diabetes has skyrocketed to over 38 million people in the United States alone, including as many as three million Americans living with type 1 diabetes. This represents over 60 million American family members affected by diabetes.
The cost of diabetes is staggering - one of every five health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diagnosed diabetes, and one of every three Medicare dollars is attributed directly to diabetes. The national price tag for diabetes is at an astounding $174 billion per year and that cost is estimated to triple in the next 25 years without dramatic changes in how diabetes is managed, prevented or cured.
Sustained scientific commitment and funding for research are needed to ensure we reach our goal of eliminating diabetes and its complications.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to priority issues for those of us determined to bring about an end to type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the leader in research for the treatment, cure and ultimate prevention of diabetes. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.
Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, JDRF has awarded more than $1.5 billion to diabetes research, including more than $100 million in 22 countries in 2010.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time for communities to rally together and talk about diabetes, how serious it is, how to best manage it and how to fund the research to cure it.
Call us and join in the conversation. JDRF Metro Saint Louis/Greater Missouri Chapter - (314) 729-1846.
|
