The incidence of type 1 (juvenile) diabetes has increased by 37% over the last 10 years, warns the CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Sheila Royles.

"There are now over 140,000 children and adults in Australia with this dangerous and potentially fatal disease," said Ms Royles. "It is now one of the most common chronic diseases in children, occurring more often than cancer, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy combined."

"The increase is even more dramatic in children under 5 years of age, where the number of children diagnosed has doubled in the last five years, for reasons we don't understand."

Type 1 diabetes is the most serious form of diabetes. A life-long 'autoimmune' disease, the body's immune system turns on itself, destroying the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas and removing the body's ability to produce insulin. It usually begins in childhood or early adulthood, although it can occur at any age.

People with type 1 diabetes must take up to 6 insulin injections every day for the rest of their lives, just to stay alive. They must also draw blood from their fingers to test their blood glucose levels more than four times each day. Unlike the more widespread type 2 diabetes which is common in the older population, it cannot be prevented, not can it be managed by diet or other lifestyle choices alone.

Type 1 diabetes ravages almost every organ in the body. A majority of people who have had type 1 diabetes for 20 years will suffer from tragic health problems, including kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, amputations, heart attack and stroke. It vastly reduces quality of life and reduces life expectancy by 15 years on average.

"Type 1 diabetes is highly misunderstood," said Sheila. "Some of the myths we often encounter is that it is caused when children eat too much sugar and don't exercise, that children 'grow out of it', that it is the same as diabetes in adults and that insulin is a cure. Nothing could be further from the truth."

"It is a lifelong disease that can strike anyone. While insulin allows a person to stay alive, it does not cure diabetes nor can it prevent severe health problems. That is why it is vital we continue to support research to find a cure for diabetes, and to stop more children from developing this disease."

Throughout May the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation aims to raise over $800,000 for medical research into type 1 diabetes by selling jelly babies and jelly baby merchandise.

Jelly Baby Month is an annual fundraising event which supports a variety of type 1 diabetes research projects around Australia.

The Appeal is made possible through the support of Woolworths & Safeway Supermarkets, Medibank Private, Amcal Pharmacies, Jay Jays Jeans and Wendy's Ice Creams, who are selling the Jelly Baby merchandise through their retail outlets.

Jelly babies are often eaten by people with type 1 diabetes as a quick source of sugar when their blood sugar level falls critically low. The sweet snack prevents them from falling into a life-threatening coma.

By purchasing Jelly Baby merchandise during May, the community can help find a cure for this devastating disease.

The 2004 range of Jelly Baby merchandise includes:

• Jelly Baby confectionary - $2
• Bookmark - $2
• Lapel Pin - $3
• Pen - $5
• Teddy Bear Keytag - $5
• Pedometer - $10

All the money raised stays in Australia to fund Australian diabetes research projects.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide, 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 constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world's largest not-for-profit supporter of diabetes research, investing over US$100 million in the search to find a cure for type 1 diabetes each year. JDRF was founded in the US in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, a disease which strikes people suddenly, makes them dependent on multiple daily injections of insulin to survive and at risk of devastating health complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and amputation.

For further information:

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