Children with type 1 (or juvenile) diabetes face stigma and ignorance in the community on a daily basis, which makes it much more difficult to live with this complicated and debilitating disease.

From teachers who deny their diabetic students sugar when they desperately need it, to hurtful comments from adults to the taunts of children in the schoolyard, children with type 1 diabetes often suffer the consequences of the confusion surrounding diabetes.

"Stigma and lack of awareness makes it much more difficult for the 100,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes to live with this disease," said Sheila Royles, CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

"It is often overshadowed by the more common type 2 diabetes and people simply don't realise what a difficult disease it is to manage."

"On World Diabetes Day, we ask people in the community to become aware of the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes - and to put themselves in the shoes of children who have to live with this disease to better understand the difficulties they face."

The focus on type 2 diabetes - a metabolic condition generally associated with poor diet and inactive lifestyle - leads many people to believe diabetes is a single disease. There are actually several types.

Type 1 (or juvenile) diabetes is the most serious form of the disease. Contrary to popular belief, it is not caused by eating too much sugar or not exercising. It is a disease of the immune system in which the body turns on itself, destroying the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.

To survive, sufferers must take up to 6 injections of insulin a day and test their blood glucose levels four or more times a day by pricking their fingers for blood. A lifelong disease, it cannot be prevented or cured. Children do not 'grow out of it'

While usually diagnosed in children, type 1 diabetes can also occur in adults. The disease affects more than 100,000 Australians, with incidence increasing each year by 3.2%. Every day another 2 people are diagnosed.

While trying to balance insulin injections with the amount of food eaten (which raises blood glucose) and exercise taken (which lowers blood glucose) people with type 1 diabetes must constantly be prepared for potential hypoglycaemic (low blood glucose) and hyperglycaemic (high blood glucose) reactions, which can be life threatening.

After 20 years with the disease a majority of people develop severe, potentially fatal health complications including heart attack, kidney failure, blindness, amputation, impotence and stroke. With the early onset of type 1 diabetes, people can suffer these problems before they reach middle age.

"In addition to the high emotional toll this disease exacts on sufferers and their families, the community suffers too," said Ms Royles. "Treating diabetes in Australia costs an estimated $5 billion a year."

"Although people with type 1 diabetes only comprise 10% of the total diabetic population in Australia, they consume 42% of the total cost of treating diabetes, a reflection of the seriousness of the disease."

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the leading non-government contributor to juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide. JDRF was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes - a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life and carries the constant threat of devastating health complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than US$600 million in direct funding to diabetes research. JDRFs mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

For further information:

Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au