News

14/11/2008

Type 1 diabetes community needs help to maintain wellbeing

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In response to a new survey about insulin misuse, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) acknowledges the significant challenges facing people with type 1 diabetes and asserts the need for medical research to find a cure for the disease.

JDRF CEO Mike Wilson acknowledges that a diagnosis of diabetes brings with it substantial medical social and psychological challenges.

"Life with type 1 diabetes is challenging for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the constant need to monitor blood glucose levels to minimise the risk of serious long term health complications, such as stroke, blindness, amputation and heart disease."

"On top of that, people with the disease have to deal with a real lack of community understanding about the causes of type 1 diabetes and the blame culture around type 2 diabetes and obesity, which is unhelpful."

"Despite these challenges the vast majority of people with type 1 diabetes manage their health responsibly with the support of family, the community and multidisciplinary health teams."

"Depression and anxiety is the most commonly reported complication for children and adults with type 1 diabetes, according to our own research conducted earlier this year, that surveyed over 2300 people around Australia. One in ten children and one in four adults with type 1 diabetes reported mental health and wellbeing issues."

"As these children grow up, the outlook is not good; a major Australian survey conducted in 2006 also found that 25% of young adults with type 1 diabetes said they suffered from depression."

"JDRF is very aware of the need to address the wellbeing of people with type 1 diabetes, especially young adults. We've just published a new book called Straight to the Point, which focuses on positive role models and real life strategies for coping with all these challenges."

"These results suggest that further rigorous information on the wellbeing of people with type 1 diabetes is needed."

"More importantly, it highlights the urgent need for investment into medical research to find a cure for this serious disease."

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