Hi Mike! Thanks for your feedback. I think that DiabetesMine did a wonderful job with recapping the conferences and helping those of us who couldn’t go understand what was going on, so thank you again for that.
I am sure that many companies have good intentions and really want to make a difference in the lives of their consumers. However, they have legal obligations to their shareholders and must be profit driven, whereas the non-profits do not have these obligations and can be completely goal oriented.
The ADA conference was encouraging and it is evident that both the non-profits and the diabetes commercial enterprises are working toward progress. Here at the JDCA we want to see that progress toward a cure, but unfortunately most of that progress is toward treatment, managements, and complications (all worthy endeavors). Progress in these areas not only improves the lives of diabetics, but it also fuels the diabetes market. A diabetes cure will not fuel, but reduce, the market so there is inherently less incentive by the diabetes commercial enterprises (not because they are against a cure but because it is an attack on their self sustaining model). So why should they change their focus? As a business, it makes sense for them to pursue projects that will help their target audience while also ensuring their own financial success.
That being said, I am encouraged to see the progress presented at the ADA conference, but hope that next year a portion can be dedicated toward cure updates.
