In the blog on Monday, we argued that Prevention and a Type 1 Cure are not the same thing, and that research into one is unlikely to lead to the other. While it is true that a lot still remains to be learned about the disease, we believe that research should be focused specifically for a cure that can allow people currently living with type 1 diabetes to experience a cure-free lifestyle.
In fact, our September 9 report on Myths surrounding a type 1 cure details precisely why we believe it is a myth that prevention will lead to a cure:
Making an analogy with other diseases vividly illustrates this point. There are many diseases for
which a vaccine prevents the onset of the disease including polio, smallpox, measles, rubella,
mumps, chickenpox, rotavirus and Hepatitis B. The vaccine to prevent the onset of polio, for
example, was widely used beginning in the 1950s and, as a result, a naturally occurring case in
today’s developed countries is rare. However, notwithstanding the discovery of a totally
effective prevention method, there is no cure for polio or any of these diseases. It is important to
keep in mind that prevention does not cure people who are already suffering from the disease.
You can read the full report, including all the other myths we have identified over at the link: http://www.thejdca.org.php5-25.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Myths_Surrounding_a_Type_1_Cure-Sept_9_2011.pdf
Of course, we are not against the discovery of a prevention measure for type 1 diabetes, but we want to stress that money donated towards a cure should not be used for other means. At the JDCA we have always urged that a more focused approach should be adopted by the research foundations if we want to find success and although it would be impressive, we do not believe that a cure will be a by-product of efforts spent in other area.
– Stoyan
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