World Diabetes Day: blue light shines on China

Posted on November 9, 2010 by christine

November 14 is World Diabetes Day 2010, and to mark the occasion the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) will launch a major new initiative in China, where 92.4 million people (1 in every 10) have diabetes.

The IDF will be unveiling a major global diabetes plan in Beijing at the iconic Great Hall of the People at Tiananmen Square. New data on how much diabetes is costing the Chinese economy and society will also be announced, followed by an expert panel session featuring Madame Kong Lingzhi, Deputy Director-General, Chinese Ministry of Health, and Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, IDF President.

‘The Chinese government is demonstrating that they are taking diabetes seriously and recognising its economic impact,’ says the IDF. ‘Now we need governments from the rest of the world to do the same.’

The IDF reports that some progress is being made: on May 13, 2010 the UN General Assembly voted unanimously for UN Resolution 64/265 to hold a UN High Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases in September 2011. More information about this can be found at http://www.ncdalliance.org/

World Diabetes Day, the only official World Health Organisation day devoted to a non-communicable disease, has been spreading the message of diabetes awareness, education and prevention since 1991. It is marked by major buildings all over the world being lit up in blue light, and all kinds of fundraising activities with a ‘blue’ theme.

Find out more at: http://www.worlddiabetesday.org

T cell finding builds autoimmunity picture

Posted on November 9, 2010 by christine

Researchers in Canada have identified the role of a type of T cell that might explain more about the automimmune response that can lead to Type 1 diabetes.

The research team found that children newly diagnosed with Type 1 have an increased presence of Th17 cells, a type of T cell discovered in 2005.

‘T cells are white blood cells and key members of the immune system that control infections,’ says Rusung Tan, leader of the team at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine. ‘In healthy individuals, Th17 cells provide a strong defence against bacteria and viruses by guiding the immune system to strongly attack infected targets within our bodies.’

In children susceptible to Type 1 however, it is thought that Th17 might play a harmful role, as this T cell has previously been associated with other autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

‘The elevated levels of Th17 cells in type 1 diabetes patients suggest that these cells may also play a key role in the early development of this disease in young patients,’ says Tan.

The findings are published in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of Immunology, and the study was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The abstract of the study can be found here.

JDRF – About the make a noise Pump Campaign

Posted on February 20, 2010 by niksimms

The artificial pancreas system will revolutionise the way that type 1 diabetes is treated. A sophisticated computer programme will link up two technologies that are already available – an insulin pump and a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) – and allow the two to communicate with each other, taking away the need to think about injections and carb counting.

At the moment, very few people in the UK with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps – estimates suggest about 3% – and even fewer use CGMs. The worry is that unless more people with type 1 can begin to access pump therapy and CGMs, it will be very difficult for people to begin using the artificial pancreas system when it becomes available.

You can help JDRF build a picture of insulin pump and CGM usage in the UK by writing to your MP and the Director of Commissioning at your local Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Original post: http://www.jdrf.org.uk/page.asp?section=560&sectionTitle=Pump+campaign

Download a template letter here and insert your details before sending it to your MP

Download a template letter here and insert your details before sending it to your PCT