JDRF - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

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.

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A glamourous Foxtrot in Episode 3 has put JDRF’s favourite TV tradie Rob Palmer and his dancing partner Alana in a strong position on the Dancing with the Stars scoreboard.

Rob, from Channel Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens, said he was thrilled to swap his khakis for sequins on Dancing with the Stars. As a celebrity contestant, he has chosen JDRF to receive his prize-money because finding a cure for type 1 diabetes is a mission close to his heart (read the full interview with Rob).

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An open letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health in National Diabetes Week 2010 from the President of JDRF Australia, Susan Alberti AO.

Dear Prime Minister Gillard and Minister Roxon,

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For National Diabetes Week 2010, JDRF contacted members of the Australian media to ask “Are you my type?”

I’m not sure what you’re thinking… I’m actually talking about type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is like type 2 diabetes in some ways – the pancreas doesn’t function correctly and the disease can lead to serious health complications like heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, stroke and amputation. Pretty serious stuff.

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JDRF welcomes today’s $35 million commitment from the Opposition Leader, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, to fund the Clinical Trial Network (CTN) that will improve the health of Australians with type 1 diabetes.

JDRF is seeking $40m in Federal Government funding to establish the CTN, with a contribution from JDRF of $10m. The Government’s recent initial commitment of $5m for the CTN was a positive first step.

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TV’s best loved carpenter and DIY star is Rob Palmer from Channel Seven’s Better Homes and Gardens. This year he is swapping his khakis for sequins to compete on Dancing with the Stars. As a celebrity contestant, Rob has chosen JDRF to receive his prize-money and he told us why finding a cure for type 1 diabetes is a mission close to his heart.

Rob’s life with type 1 diabetes began when he was just 7 years old. En route to a holiday to Queensland, the Palmer family stopped in Tamworth with a very sick little boy. A local doctor told his parents to get him to the Children’s Hospital in Camperdown as soon as possible and ‘keep his fluids up’. Dutifully his parents fed him lemonade throughout the 400 km drive, with stops every 15 minutes or so for little Rob to throw up or go to the toilet. His diabetes diagnosis came just in the nick of time, with a blood glucose level of 64 mmol/L, followed by two weeks in intensive care.

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Put simply, a clinical trial is a scientific study of a new medical therapy in humans.

Clinical trials are usually the last stage of the research process, capping off years of laboratory and animal research. Their ultimate aim is to obtain a realistic picture of what would happen if a medical treatment was available to the Australian public. Read more...

Jared Banks bonded with his new mate Rod Kafer over rugby scores and BGLs when they met recently in Brisbane to hand over a special JDRF rugby jersey. Jared is a nine-year old “rugby nut” who has had type 1 diabetes for just 18 months. Rod, a former Wallaby who had a distinguished on-field rugby career, is now one of Fox Sports rugby personalities. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 15.

Jared presented Rod with a special edition of the Pine Rivers Pumas rugby jersey that commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the club, as well as the team’s new partnership with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Although Jared’s diagnosis was a shock to his family, dad Jason, who is team coach, says his son is a bit of a larrikin who is coping with life with type 1 diabetes really well.

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In an exciting step forward for Australian type 1 diabetes research, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that the Australian Government will provide $5 million funding to support the establishment of an Australian Clinical Trial Network for Type 1 Diabetes.

This announcement stems from the Prime Minister’s initial commitment to match the generous $500,000 pledge made by JDRF President Dr Sue Alberti AO at the recent Federal Kids in the House event in Canberra.

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When JDRF phoned Bev Dillon one recent afternoon, the mobile phone conversation was hampered by loud background noise. Where was Bev? “Out selling jelly babies, of course! Where else would I be in May?!”

May is Jelly Baby Month, one of the many charity merchandise campaigns that vie for the attention of generous Australians every week of the year. They support causes as diverse as Composting Awareness Week and World Migratory Bird Day, and that’s just in May!

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