Healthy Living

Diabetes vs. Science: Who’s Winning?

Diabetes vs. Science: Who’s Winning?

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a serious chronic illness that could affect 552 million people by the year 2030, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). A person suffering from diabetes is at a much greater risk of heart attack, kidney damage, or stroke. Therefore, we are now putting more effort into funding and research for diabetes. Several research programs have been created to fully understand the condition and work toward establishing a cure.

Here are several programs or organizations, found across the globe, currently dedicated to funding and research for diabetes:

1. American Diabetes Association

ADA works with congress and the U.S. administration in increasing the funding for finding a cure and a method of prevention for diabetes. ADA funds several programs and research initiatives that could ultimately break the increasing trend of patients with diabetes. Currently, they help fund what is known as the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). This organization is using every resource they have towards research on successfully developing an artificial pancreas for diabetic patients. Additionally, they are also testing different treatments for type 2 diabetes.

ADA also provides funding for diabetic prevention programs such as the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) and the National Diabetes Prevention Program. These programs consist of different health care specialists and community groups that are driven to decrease, or prevent, the risk of diabetes-related issues by offering lifestyle intervention programs and new research on the condition.  

To learn more about these programs, you can visit this site.

2. Diabetes Canada

Every year, the National Research Council (NRC) of Diabetes Canada grants different researchers and personnel an opportunity to develop or expand their study on diabetes and its prevention, management, and treatment. Their aid in funding and research for diabetes has led to several groundbreaking discoveries; all of which have contributed to better understanding the condition. They have produced diabetes-related research on obesity, genetics, complications, and pathophysiology, which includes the study of how and why the disease develops. The application for proposals this year was already due last April, and funding will start on June 1.

3. European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes

Another organization that actively supports funding and research for diabetes is the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD). It was formed by another group, called the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), which is a non-profit organization that has invested over € 100 million for the advancement of diabetes-related research. Its goals are to promote or raise awareness on the seriousness of diabetes, expand research, and help manage research-based applications.

The organization also offers funding to support researchers and scientists worldwide. This year, they are offering funding to four research programs. One of these programs is called the ESFD/Lilly/JDRF Program in Type 1 Diabetes Research. JDRF’s goal is to research and discover a cure for type 1 diabetes, while Lilly focuses on providing personal help for people living with diabetes. The findings and results of this program would be able to alleviate the struggles of millions that are currently living with diabetes and prevent them from experiencing it ever again. The deadline for the applications is on June 1 of this year.

For more information about the organization and its programs, you can read about it here.

4. The Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation

This is another non-profit organization that was established in order to develop research on the treatment and prevention of diabetes. They offer about 300 different research studies at different institutions in the United States. They’ve funded research on different types of advanced therapies that can offer the possibility of preventing and treating diabetes, and diabetes-related problems, from beta cell transplant to gene therapy.

One current research that is funded by Diabetes Actions is a study on a solution that can reverse or cure type 1 diabetes. The full title of the research is “A Program for the Cure of Type 1 Diabetes Using a Generic Drug: Phase II”, conducted by Prof. Faustman, MD, Ph.D. from Massachusetts. She explored the effects of a vaccine called Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) by administering it a number of times to participants. The expected results of the experiment would be that the pancreas of diabetics would be able to produce insulin. If ever the vaccine turns out to be successful in reversing type 1 diabetes, people living with the condition can finally have a chance at experiencing a healthier, diabetes-free life.  

5. The Diabetes Australian Research Program

Like other organizations mentioned in this article, the Diabetes Australian Research Program funds different kinds of research that involves the prevention, management, and cure of diabetes. It also works with the Australian government in addressing personal issues of people that are suffering from the devastating effects of diabetes. Each year, they award researchers over a sum total of $210,000 so that they may be able to successfully continue with the improvement and expansion of their research surrounding diabetes.

Last year, the Millennium Awards went to two researchers who conducted a study on type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The first award went to Dr. Sutherland from St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research for his study on ways to intervene and prevent type 1 diabetes. The second award went to Dr. Wong from Kolling Institute of Medical Research, who dealt with preventive measures for kidney disease problems.

You can see the list of grants that are given each year and read more information about the organization on their website.

Diabetes or Science: Who Is Winning?

With the fast rise of research in diabetes, the discovery of an effective and sustainable cure may very well be possible. Researchers and professionals have made a wonderful collective effort in fighting the war against diabetes.

Right now, there are different organizations existing around the world that focus on funding and research for diabetes. The future, in regards to health and diabetes, lies in the success of these funded programs and research. There’s still a lot to discover about diabetes, but with everything that’s happening in science right now, we may have a strong chance at winning this war.