I post this just to ask people's thoughts. Thanks
I didn't read the entire thing, but I thought the changes they are making are very positive. I'm incredibly thankful they are shifting their focus to include adults with type 1 as well as children. One day those kids grow up :o)
Interesting...and the changes do sound positive.
Dumb question: What is all of that about microneedles and intradermal injections that could make insulin kick in more quickly? How is that different from the way we inject insulin now? I would have thought current injection methods would be considered "intradermal" (e.g., in skin, as opposed to intravenous/in veins, intramuscular/in muscles, etc)?
I read most of this, and I think it is really interesting. The part of me that wants a cure was upset for a tiny moment, but the rest of me that lives as a diabetic day to say was like YES!!!! Finally people thinking of Type 1's as adults! Just the other day I was complaining to my fiance about how I don't think the people who design some diabetic equipment/supplies ever tried to use them for more than a day, because they are so ridiculously impractical, and I was disappointed that this was the best there was to offer. I am looking forward to see what kind of stuff come out of this.
I read most of this, and I think it is really interesting. The part of me that wants a cure was upset for a tiny moment, but the rest of me that lives as a diabetic day to day was like YES!!!! Finally people thinking of Type 1's as adults! Just the other day I was complaining to my fiance about how I don't think the people who design some diabetic equipment/supplies ever tried to use them for more than a day, because they are so ridiculously impractical, and I was disappointed that this was the best there was to offer. I am looking forward to see what kind of stuff come out of this.
[quote user="C"]
I didn't read the entire thing, but I thought the changes they are making are very positive. I'm incredibly thankful they are shifting their focus to include adults with type 1 as well as children. One day those kids grow up :o)
[/quote]
I agree. I like that change and have already seen it start action in my town (as they've invited me to be part of the family outreach committee officially so i can help them reach out!).
I'm not concerned about the "cure" part that I know a lot of people are freaking out about it. I truly think that before they can simply cure diabetes, they need to know how to prevent it. I think a lot of people need to look at the "big picture" when it comes to that area.
As a parent - I think it is great!
All those the areas that JDRF is now focusing on are aspects of this crappy disease. Prevention would be amazing! I wish no one else had to get T1, esp since a member of our extended family was diagnosed last week. (no genetic relationship to my son).
Also - if they can prevent it - that will mean they actually understand what causes it and to me that would mean they'd be a lot closer to curing it.
The following quote impressed me the most:
".......there are many people who will live with diabetes for a relatively long period of time. We have a responsibility and an opportunity to help them live better, healthier, longer, and less stressful lives. And so one of the big changes that we’re undergoing is focusing on improving the lives of people living with diabetes on a day-to-day basis."
There were so many bold statements and big promises....it is difficult to grasp all of this. It would take so very long to accomplish even half of what was discussed. If only the quoted statement was addressed and carried out within the next decade, I would be very pleased.
I also found this to be a positive article.
As someone who's heard "a cure is right around the corner" for as long as I can remember, I rolled my eyes at the 5-year aspect.
But like the shift to include more Adult Type 1 focus. That is truly needed and missing in what the JDRF does now, and can only make the organization stronger and being what the entire Diabetes Community needs. I've long been felt "forgotten" since becoming an adult and that I wasn't being truly represented, and it's not until recent years that I've noticed the JDRF actually wants to know what I think about issues - not just tapping my checkbook or phone calling skills. Of course, that still does happen often.
Reasonable people can debate about "who's the more cure-focused" and the kinds of research funded, but I really don't see how there can be debate about turning more attention to a segment of the diabetes community that's just as much a focus of that cure priority as anyone else. I tend to think that all the technology and reseearch that's done on those advancements can only help us get closer to a cure. It builds on a foundation and helps us learn more about what we're trying to cure.
"The second big change at JDRF is moving away from an exclusive focus on children and also embracing the adult type 1 diabetes audience. At the end of the day, at least 85% of the people living with diabetes are adults, not children. We’re no less committed to improving the lives of children, but there are a lot of people out there who have lived with this disease for a very long time. And what’s really important to them is an improvement in their life today, whether that’s managing blood sugar better on a daily basis, preventing complications, or screening their kids for diabetes.
These first two big changes are mutually reinforcing. Embracing treatment and prevention is going to help us be more relevant to the type 1 diabetes adult crowd. If the cure is five years away, then by all means let’s double down, let’s go for the cure, and treatment is not important. But if the cure is farther out than that, then we’ve got to really focus on helping people live with diabetes. And that’s where JDRF is going."
HELL YEAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May I just say that I am so happy so see such a wonderful and supportive response here (as compared to other places which shall remain nameless). I love Juvenation!
[quote user="John"]
Dumb question: What is all of that about microneedles and intradermal injections that could make insulin kick in more quickly? How is that different from the way we inject insulin now? I would have thought current injection methods would be considered "intradermal" (e.g., in skin, as opposed to intravenous/in veins, intramuscular/in muscles, etc)?
[/quote]most pens, syringes, and infusion systems for insulin are subcutaneous type injections
the BD needle system is designed to hit the intradermal, which apparently has a better absorption efficiency than subcutaneous.
with regards to the op, the article was nice, the new guy sounds good, but only time and performance will tell the true story. imo, I don't care if the JDRF is applying thrust to both cure and therapy development, anything that makes this diease suck less is great by me.
[quote user="Joe"]
anything that makes this diease suck less is great by me.
[/quote]
This. So this.
I just read the whole article and I have to say...I really like this guy. I like that he's successfully started and run businesses, but also has a son with Type 1 Diabetes. I feel like that combination is perfect. He knows how things are, and that money makes the world go round, so he'll know how to work with companies to push for development of better technology for type 1. But, because of his son, we can be sure he's not ALL business, and is in it for the right reasons.
Also, I do like that JDRF is starting to acknowledge that they previously neglected the adult type 1 population. Hopefully with this move, JDRF will begin spreading accurate information about type 1 to the public, as we all know the media doesn't do a very good job of that.
Molly
[quote user="Joe"]
[quote user="John"]
Dumb question: What is all of that about microneedles and intradermal injections that could make insulin kick in more quickly? How is that different from the way we inject insulin now? I would have thought current injection methods would be considered "intradermal" (e.g., in skin, as opposed to intravenous/in veins, intramuscular/in muscles, etc)?
[/quote]
most pens, syringes, and infusion systems for insulin are subcutaneous type injections
the BD needle system is designed to hit the intradermal, which apparently has a better absorption efficiency than subcutaneous.
with regards to the op, the article was nice, the new guy sounds good, but only time and performance will tell the true story. imo, I don't care if the JDRF is applying thrust to both cure and therapy development, anything that makes this diease suck less is great by me.
[/quote]
Thanks for the info. That is so interesting. Kind of counter-intuitive, also, that intradermal doesn't go as deep as subcutaneous, but is more effective. They know this, and yet the technology has not been developed to the point that we're all using it? That's mind-boggling...it doesn't sound like it would be that hard to figure out a way to deploy this...
When I was at the JDRF research summit last weekend, one of the scientists was talking about those smaller needles being more efficient in regards to pump tubing that tends to get clogged or kinked under the skin. But, I guess it's better for injections too?
As for the article, I could see why many parents of young CWD were upset, but for those of us who have lived with this disease for a while, we have seen that the "cure" is less imminent and tougher medically than we've been told time after time after time. I'm glad JDRF is also working on a cure, but I love their support of other technologies that could help us sooner.
Also, there are other organization like DRI that are working towards a cure that people can support if they feel frustrated with the way JDRF is heading. To echo what someone else said, I love the calm, thoughtful responses on this topic on Juvenation compared with what else I've seen online!! This new head of JDRF is a parent of a T1, so I'm sure he wants a cure as much as anyone, but wants his child to be healthy if one doesn't come....