Call for more research funding in fight against type 1 diabetes in the US

Although there have been many recent advances in research into the causes and possible treatments for type 1 diabetes, the number of people suffering from the disease has increased dramatically over the last few years. In the United States, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is trying to address this challenge and have called for further funding for research into possible treatments for the metabolic condition.
Jeffrey Brewer, president and CEO of JDRF, has said that as this month is National Diabetes Awareness Month, this is a useful opportunity to put pressure on policy makers to focus more on providing research funding and support into the fight against type 1 diabetes .
This move is timely, with around three million people in the US now suffering from type 1 diabetes, and the total cost of healthcare to tackle the disease now amounting to over USD174 billion every year. It is hoped that increasing research spending will contribute to a lowering of this cost, as well as helping treat so many in need.
Brewer commented “November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to priority issues for those of us trying to bring about an end to type 1 diabetes.”
He added “Chief among our priorities is to ensure that federal funding levels remain sufficient to support the necessary research to drive the field toward a cure for the disease and its complications .”