Diabetes Advisory Group doesn’t deliver for type 1
The Government has announced a new Advisory Group to advise on services for people with diabetes, but the type 1 diabetes community appears to be gravely under-represented. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the world’s largest non-government supporter of diabetes research, has not been invited to participate.
CEO of JDRF Mike Wilson said he was hearing concern from the type 1 diabetes community about the new $450 million diabetes program and the new panel appointed to help the government deliver it.
“Without input from the type 1 diabetes community, there is a risk that medical care for children and adults with the most serious form of the disease will not be addressed by this major new program.”
“This funding commitment appears to have put pressure on the government’s funds for diabetes, leaving research funding to find a cure for type 1 diabetes facing a major drop off in 2011.”
President of JDRF Susan Alberti AO was moved to send an urgent letter directly to the Minister for Health about the Advisory Group.
Susan said she was disturbed to learn that JDRF, the peak body for people with type 1 diabetes, had not been invited to join the Advisory Group to help deliver the major $450 million program.
“It appears that this new program will mostly benefit those at risk or in the early stages of type 2 diabetes. While we welcome funding for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is important to recognize that this will not help the up to 140,000 people with type 1 diabetes to live longer healthier lives.”
“The health of most children and adults with type 1 diabetes benefits from the involvement of medical specialists like endocrinologists because, when not managed effectively, type 1 diabetes can and tragically too often does, lead to death.”
JDRF has asked the government to commit $35 million for a Clinical Trials Network. Make your voice heard to help ensure the Clinical Trial Network secures the full funding.
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People who are suffering type 1 diabetes please continue to lobby hard to the Government for funding for the CTN. All we are asking is for a fair go. Our children did not ask for the disease and it was through no fault of their own. I implore anyone affected by the disease to "push on" with their lobbying.
i hope there is a cure
NOT impressed
Thats just not good enough! what can we all do to protest this??? we are keeping up with the lobbying of the PM office but it seems the staff have taken it upon themselves to now hang up on us, not a nice way to treat voters!!!!
Remember that Politicians represent each and everyone of us. Do not be put off by an impolite person hanging up on you. Keep up the lobbying. This is your right in a democratic country. Thanks to everyone involved in our lobbying. I will not rest and neither should any of you. We only have a few weeks to the Federal election. Make this time count.
Does anyone have tips in speaking directly to their local member. I live in an area that could go either way. I want my local member to know that funding type 1 diabetes research is important to me, my family and friends that vote in their area. Thanks!
What can I do to help JDRF?
How can there be a Diabetes Advisory Group if there is no one representing type1????? Why don't they just call it "Diabobesity Advisory Group” to prevent more type 2 diabetes in Australia?
Are our members in Government not smart enough to know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2????
We need different treatments! We can not PREVENT Type 1 Diabetes at this point!!!! If we are so lucky to have a foundation that is international in our country, why don't we leverage their treatment, advocacy and research knowledge?
Stuart, just phone their electoral office directly. Let them know your thoughts re the CTN trials, lack of representation on the Diabetes Advisory Gtroup and advise them just how difficult it is with type 1 and not to put our type 1 commuity in the same category as type 2. We only have a short time to the election. We must keep on lobbying our politicians right up until election day. As I keep saying all we are asking is for a "fair go"!!