JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

A Western Australian study has found that rates of severe hypoglycaemia declined dramatically in the past decade.

The study out of the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth, found that rates of severe hypoglycaemia in children with Type 1 diabetes declined two thirds between 2000 and 2009.

The study also showed that glycaemic control stayed the same in that time, with the link between glycaemia and risk of hypos growing weaker. There was also no longer an increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia in children under six years old.

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JDRF’s 2011 Diabetes Educator of the Year Awards were launched by Rob Palmer (Better Homes and Gardens, Dancing With The Stars) early in September.

The awards are designed to recognise and reward Diabetes Educators who help change lives and improve health and wellbeing for the Type 1 community. Comments from community members like Christine show how important the role of the Diabetes Educator is: “Almost 3 years in to our family’s journey of living with t1d and we are still learning. Thank you to our educators who are doing your jobs so very well and with compassion”.

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The international arm of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has partnered with US company InnoCentive to launch an USD$100,000 ‘Challenge’ for new ideas that may lead to the formulation of a drug that would remove or reduce the need for injections for people with type 1 diabetes.

InnoCentive finds new ways to solve technological and scientific problems using crowdsourcing and open innovation. The idea is to use the web to build connections between R&D problems or ‘Challenges’ and ‘Solvers’, who are creative people that might work or study in different industries or fields, or perhaps in other countries.

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Jordan is relatively new to the type 1 diabetes community – he had his one year diagnosis anniversary last month – but his dedication to raising funds and awareness is very impressive indeed.

Jordan’s life includes all the usual activities of an Aussie kid, footy, riding his bike, as well as playing double bass and piano. He and his family try hard not to let the disease affect him, and mum Karen says proudly that he just gets on with things.

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A study on Aussie teenagers found that parents reported improved behaviour after two years on insulin pumps. The study suggested that the reported improvements in mood and behaviour could be connected to the ‘improved quality of life’ that follows the switch to insulin pump therapy. 

The study looked at 27 teens and their parents, and analyzed their internalizing behaviours, or anxiety and depression, as well as externalizing behaviours, which relate to conduct problems and hyperactivity.

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JDRF today announced the two winners of the 2011 JDRF Macquarie Group Foundation Diabetes Research Innovation Awards.

The Awards recognise two outstanding researchers in type 1 diabetes with the publication or patent demonstrating the highest innovation, impact and importance in the 2010 calendar year.

Winner – Established Researcher – Dr David O’Neal
Winner – Early Career Researcher – Helen Thomas PhD

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