The Walk to Cure Diabetes is where the type 1 diabetes community – along with their friends, family and colleagues – come together to share our hope for a cure. It’s a great event to meet others in the type 1 diabetes community. In the months leading up to the Walks held all around Australia in October, we see our community raise funds to support the researchers who are working to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes.
Why it is so important to join the Walk to Cure Diabetes
Clinic trials are an important part of the journey to a cure for type 1 diabetes. Through fundraising JDRF has been able to support the international Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Cardio-Renal Intervention (AdDIT) trial.
The AdDIT trial aims to find out whether ACEIs and statins have a place in the treatment of adolescents with diabetes. Young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during childhood are at risk of long term complications including kidney, heart and circulatory disease. This risk can be reduced by improving glycaemic control (HbA1c) but this can be difficult to achieve, particularly during adolescence.
How will it benefit people affected by type 1 diabetes?
We cannot be sure if the study drugs will benefit anyone directly, but the information we get from AdDIT will help make decisions about how best to treat young people with diabetes in the future.
This is the first time anyone has explored the use of these medications in young people. It will provide important information about how safe it is to give adolescents ACEI and statins, and whether or not they can help in the short term to limit increases in blood pressure and blood fats.
When combined with insulin therapy, use of these drugs during adolescence could significantly reduce the overall numbers of young people with type 1 diabetes who develop long term complications.
For more information and to register your interest in the trial, please visit the AdDIT website.
How can I help raise funds so more clinical trials can be funded?
We would like to say a big thank you to those who have registered and started fundraising for the Walk to Cure Diabetes, your efforts are truly amazing.
If you have not yet registered for a Walk to Cure Diabetes near you, click here to find your nearest Walk. There are over 25 Walks being held this year in captial cities around Australia as well as in regional areas.
Once registered, you can start fundraising. Visit the Fundraising Tool Kit on the Walk to Cure Diabetes website for some inspirational fundraising ideas. There are loads of fundraising tips and templates for you to use.
But I’m not able to attend a Walk …
If you are not able to attend the Walk to Cure Diabetes, and you don’t know a Walker to support, please donate to the JDRF Team. Every single donation – large or small – will help JDRF support more important clinical trials like the AdDIT trial.
