Despite hard times, diabetics have hope in science

 

"Hard times hit diabetics" (April 13) detailed the life-and-death costs of not treating diabetes because of economic hardships. "Woman who has battled spinal injury cites stem cells" (April 13) told the story of a Colorado woman who traveled to India for human embryonic stem cell transplants after a paralyzing skiing accident. The story said she now "walks with a cane and skis with outriggers."

Embryonic stem calls can grow into any body part and may replace or regenerate damaged cells in the heart, pancreas, spine, etc. With continued research, people with diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, cancer, macular degeneration and heart or brain damage could have a higher quality of life or a lengthened life expectancy.

Too many people have to ration their diabetes supplies because of budget cutbacks, job loss or loss of insurance. This means more long-term complications and a burdening health care cost on our tax system. It is very difficult for someone with Type 1 diabetes to cut back on testing supplies and impossible to cut back on insulin. Someone with Type 2 who is not on an insulin regimen could seek help on how to manage his stress, activity levels and food intake to supplement the need for medication and testing supplies.

Seven percent of the population in this country has diabetes. That's 20.8 million children and adults. While an estimated 14.6 million people have been diagnosed, a conservative estimate of 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease. Worldwide, 194 million people have diabetes. According to the World Health Organization estimates, that will more than double by 2030.

Seven out of 10 countries with the highest number of people living with diabetes are in the developing world. Because insulin is prohibitively expensive for patients with Type 1 diabetes in the developing world, it is estimated that the life expectancy of a newly diagnosed patient may be as little as one year. Studies carried out recently in Zambia, Mali and Mozambique highlight a stark reality: A person requiring insulin for survival in Zambia will live an average of 11 years; a person in Mali can expect to live for 30 months; in Mozambique, 12 months.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the leading charitable funder and advocate of Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes research worldwide. Organized for results, our mission is to accelerate research to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. Anyone with Type 1 diabetes who needs education or support should call the JDRF office at 314-729-1846.

Article from St. Louis Post 4/18/09