JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

A series of research articles about the insulin analogue Lantus have been published recently by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

One of these studies in particular raised questions that the use of Lantus may be associated with an increase in cancer risk, particularly in people using Lantus as their sole source of insulin treatment.

It is important to note that all of these studies were observational in nature and involved primarily people with insulin-dependant type 2 diabetes. This means the researchers could only draw conclusions from general statistical trends and couldn’t exclude the possibility that their study results may be influenced by other factors including environment or lifestyle.

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Australian scientists prevent onset of type 1 diabetes by making immune cells tolerate insulin-producing cells.

JDRF-funded researchers Ms Eliana Mariño and Dr Shane Grey have demonstrated the cells of the human immune system can be manipulated to prevent type 1 diabetes.

The body’s immune cells, or white blood cells, include B cells and T cells. B cells make antibodies and present ‘antigens’ to T cells, allowing them to recognise and kill invaders.

Previous research by the authors has showed that groups of B cells migrate to the pancreas and pancreatic lymph nodes and tell T cells to kill the cells that produce insulin.

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Genetic susceptibility to autoimmunity

JDRF partners move research forward

Cancer drugs reverse diabetes in mice

Hydrangeas may help prevent diabetes

Vitamin C may help to stop type 1 diabetes damage

Glycemic control influenced by genes

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Researchers warn that environmental factors must be behind rising rates of type 1 diabetes amongst children in Europe.

Type 1 diabetes is the leading form of diabetes amongst young people of European origin and results from the multi-centre EURODIAB study have shown that incidence is set to increase dramatically over the next ten years.

By analyzing past European data from 1989 – 2003, study researchers found that the overall increase of type 1 diabetes incidence was 3.9% each year. When the data was broken down into age groups, the largest increase could be seen in the 0-5yr age group, with an annual increase of 5.4%.

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A JDRF trial shows that continuous glucose monitor (CGM) devices help to maintain tight blood sugar levels whilst lowering the risk of dangerously low blood sugar.

There is extensive research to show that tight blood glucose control is the best way to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes complications such as kidney failure, retinopathy and heart disease. According to results from the Diabetes Complications and Control Trial, every one point reduction in HbA1C reduces the risk of long-term complications by approximately 40%.

Unfortunately, research has also shown that one of the hurdles to tight blood sugar control is the risk of hypoglycemia – both real and perceived.

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JDRF Board Member Rod Pearse has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2009 with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Appointments to the Order of Australia confer recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson warmly congratulated Mr Pearse on his appointment. “This Medal is exceptionally well-deserved, and Rod’s strong and positive impact on JDRF will be enduring.”

Canon has launched “Creative for a Cause” – a national awareness campaign encouraging Australians to get creative for the causes they are passionate about.

JDRF is very excited by this campaign as you could earn $60,000 for type 1 diabetes research.

There are two ways to participate:

1) Upload a photo that represents JDRF’s mission, along with a 25 word description of what the photo means, at www.canon.com.au/creativeforacause.

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The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is delighted to announce that it will be one of the charities to benefit from the 10^th Annual National Press Gallery Midwinter Ball on Wednesday 17 June.

This year the Press Gallery has pulled off a coup in their efforts to raise funds for charity, with three of Australia’s biggest political players set to donate ‘themselves’ to help raise funds.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull, and Deputy PM Julia Gillard are each offering to host dinners that will be auctioned on Ebay from this Sunday, with proceeds to seven charities including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

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