Over 205,000 Demand An Increase In Type 1 Diabetes Cure Research Funding

USA - English

• USA - English

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- More than 205,000 individuals have signed the 4th Annual More for a T1D Cure Petition, which calls on the largest diabetes organizations to significantly increase funding for type 1 diabetes cure research after spending on such initiatives hit a record low in 2015 and has remained mostly flat since then.

An estimated two million Americans are affected by type 1 diabetes, and about half are diagnosed during childhood. Those living with the disease need multiple injections of insulin every single day and are on constant alert while monitoring blood sugar levels. The debilitating long term consequences of T1D can include eye, heart, nerve, and kidney failure.

Organized by the Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance (JDCA), the petition ran for 11 weeks and closed on November 18, 2018. This year's record participation is nearly double last year's turnout, representing the growing chorus of people who want the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the two largest diabetes fundraising organizations, to step up their focus on cure research.

"I signed for my 3 year old son, who was diagnosed last year," petition signer Rachel Hodsdon told the JDCA. "Diabetes is a horrible disease that affects the whole family. I am fighting for a cure, and I want it to happen sooner rather than later so my son can enjoy his life to the fullest."

"Surpassing 200,000 signatures is a momentous accomplishment which clearly shows that people want their donations for type 1 diabetes to fund cure research over any other initiatives," said Phil Shaw, General Manager for the JDCA. "There will be no cure for type 1 diabetes in our lifetime, unless we see a drastic shift in the amount of money going toward cure research."

The ADA and JDRF have spent only a fraction of the money raised through fundraising efforts on cure research. For the 2017 fiscal year, JDRF spent only 38 percent of its income on cure research, and the ADA spent only 4 percent. On behalf of the petition signers, the JDCA seeks a formal commitment from these foundations to significantly increase spending on cure research.

SOURCE Juvenile Diabetes Cure Alliance