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By Patrick Tohill, JDRF National Director of Government Relations

For the second time in two weeks, I find myself in Ottawa. Last week was for Kids for a Cure, JDRF’s signature lobbying event. This week, I’m here with JDRF President and CEO Dave Prowten and a number of diabetes organizations to support the Diabetes 360⁰ initiative.

 What is Diabetes 360⁰?

The Diabetes 360⁰ initiative was conceived by Diabetes Canada and developed in collaboration with 120 experts. It is supported by every major diabetes organization in Canada (type 1 and type 2), including JDRF. It is a framework for a pan-Canadian diabetes strategy aimed at drastically reducing and eventually ending diabetes based on four simple but ambitious targets:

• 90% of Canadians live in an environment that prevents the development of diabetes
• 90% of Canadians are aware of their diabetes status
• 90% of Canadians living with prediabetes or diabetes are engaged in appropriate interventions to prevent diabetes and its complications
• 90% of Canadians engaged in interventions are achieving improved health outcomes

With the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) increasing faster in Canada than in many other developed countries (effectively doubling every 20 years), it’s clear that we need to do everything we can to improve prevention strategies. For T1D, prevention means an increased investment in autoimmunity research to understand and prevent the response that triggers the body’s destruction of its insulin-producing cells.

Delayed diagnosis of T1D is a leading factor in incidence of life-threatening but avoidable diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in both children and adults with an estimated 5-10K Canadians hospitalized annually due to DKA. An alarming number are infants in toddlers. Nearly 4 in 10 children under age 3 present with DKA at the time of first diagnosis. Of these, 38% had visited a physician within the previous week. Interventions are needed to help Health Care Providers diagnose T1D earlier, including increased use of finger-prick blood glucose testing in clinical settings and testing of family members of those with T1D.

Appropriate interventions for T1D aimed at reducing complications include those promoting adherence to recommended treatment guidelines (eye and foot checks, for example) as well as those that increase access to beneficial diabetes technologies such as insulin pumps, flash glucose monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring and hybrid-closed loop systems.

Improving outcomes with respect to T1D means moving beyond HbA1C to look at other metrics such as time spent in target range, and reduced incidences of hypo- and hyperglycemia.

For this reason, JDRF Canada has made support for Diabetes 360⁰ one of our five key recommendations in our 2019 Pre-Budget Submission, and why we are actively participating in both the advisory group and the T1D working group. And that’s why we are here in Ottawa once again this week advocating on your behalf – to convince policymakers of the need to fund this initiative.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes may have little in common, but a new research study has revealed that a drug used to treat the latter could also benefit individuals living with T1D.

Dr. Farid Mahmud is a JDRF-funded investigator and a specialist in pediatric endocrinology at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He is examining the effects of empagliflozin (a drug currently approved for use in type 2 diabetes, and known for its metabolic and health benefits) among adolescents and young adults with T1D who are at a higher risk of developing complications, such as kidney and heart disease. Empagliflozin reduces the amount of glucose the kidneys reabsorb into the blood, thereby allowing more to pass through the urine.

The Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Treatment with EMPagliflozin for Hyperglycemia & HyperfilTration Trial (ATTEMPT) is designed to evaluate the impact of these drivers in combination with insulin therapy, and assess the effectiveness and implementation of the oral medication.

During adolescence and young adulthood, patients with T1D have the poorest blood sugar control across their lifespan. This is due to numerous factors such as physiologic changes (growth and puberty) that make individuals less sensitive to insulin, and psychological, social and developmental changes.

In the ATTEMPT Trial, 100 patients will be enrolled in a 20-week study to determine the quality of their diabetes control. Through the study of novel treatment agents and with input from patients and families, the trial will assess the potential for improved blood sugar control, and a decreased risk for complications that often occur during adolescence.

If successful, the project will be the first academically-led North American trial to use this method to treat adolescents, and evaluate if these agents are effective and safe in the management of T1D in youth. In addition, the findings will be integrated with the team’s ongoing research on kidney disease in T1D.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog. 

Getting a restful night’s sleep is often an elusive goal for many. Yet for someone living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it can be more worrisome than challenging given the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). In fact, a new research study reveals that hypoglycemia can also induce abnormal heart rhythms, which in some cases could lead to cardiac failure.

Dr. Simon J. Fisher, co-director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Center at the University of Utah, presented data on the link between hypoglycemia and heart failure at the American Diabetes Association’s conference held in June. He explained that individuals who experience hypoglycemia a number of times can develop cardiac arrhythmias, and that a subsequent episode of severe hypoglycemia could lead to sudden death.

Dr. Fisher’s findings also showed that using a beta blocker—an oral medicine to treat high blood pressure—helped to prevent death in T1D animal models. One of the symptoms of low blood sugar is a rapid heartbeat. The medication blocks the hormone adrenaline, which slows the nerve impulses in the heart, resulting in less quick heartbeats and improved blood flow. Although the beta blocker increases the risk for hypoglycemia by reducing low blood sugar awareness, it simultaneously protects against severe hypoglycemia-induced fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

While human trials have not commenced, Dr. Fisher recommends that healthcare professionals work with patients to adjust target glycemic goals accordingly in order to avoid potential fatal occurrences.

Dr. Fisher has been supported by JDRF since 2001 when he was a postdoctoral fellow at Joslin Diabetes Center. He was the recipient of several JDRF grants and currently mentors JDRF-funded investigators.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog.

This blog is sponsored by 

With Kids for a Cure Lobby Day just a few weeks away, we’re getting ready to head to Ottawa with our delegates.

During their trip, they’ll be meeting with Canada’s decision-makers to help them understand the daily challenges they face in living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), bringing home the importance of accelerating progress towards a cure, developing new treatment options and improving access to new diabetes drugs and devices.

People all across Canada are helping us get loud about type 1 diabetes sharing their message to Canada’s decision-makers using the hashtag #TeamT1D.

One of them is Kaleb Dahlgren, former Junior A level hockey player with the Humbolt Broncos, founder of Dahlgren’s Diabeauties and JDRF Ambassador.

Kaleb has been living with type 1 diabetes since he was four years old, and he’s now joining the #TeamT1D initiative by sharing his thoughts on misconceptions about T1D and the role the Canadian government can play in supporting those living with it.

Primary sponsor Lobby Day

What’s the biggest misconception people have about type 1 diabetes?

The biggest misconception with type 1 diabetes is that you develop it from unhealthy eating/lifestyle and that you are not able to do the things you were doing before because of it. Both of those are false!

You’ve become a big advocate for the T1D community through the Dahlgren’s Diabeauties program. What would you say to someone who’s just been diagnosed?

You will get used to managing your diabetes and it does become easier. Don’t let people tell you cannot do/achieve things with diabetes…it is NOT true! Make sure you manage your diabetes and do not let it manage you!

What should the Canadian government do to support those living with type one diabetes?

They should fund all diabetic supplies for type 1 diabetics; all insulin, needles, pumps, CGM’s, etc., should be covered. Effective treatment of type 1 diabetes decreases the potential of health complications and hospital admissions. Lower hospital admissions mean less burden on taxpayers and better quality of life for the person with diabetes.

Technology has really changed the way diabetes is managed, however, it is not available to everyone due to cost, this is unfair and should be available for all people with type 1 diabetes.

The Government should allocate more money for T1D research. JDRF is doing a great job but cannot do it alone. A cure is right around the corner and with more funding, we can turn type one into type none.

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Want to share your message with Ottawa’s decision-makers?

Post a photo or a video on social media with your message to Canada’s decision-makers using the hashtag #TeamT1D, or check out our latest Instagram story and submit your reply there!

Your message can be something as simple as why access to medical devices and treatments is important to you, the challenges associated with living with type 1 diabetes, or any other message you’d like to share with politicians in Ottawa.

We’ll be bringing these messages with us to Ottawa to help support the Kids for a Cure Lobby Day delegates and to share the stories of fellow Canadians who live with type 1 diabetes or want to see their loved ones get the support they deserve.

Let’s get loud for #TeamT1D!

Administering multiple insulin injections is one of the many daily burdens for people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) – particularly among those with a needle phobia. However, a team of scientists is hoping to change all that with the development of an insulin pill to manage the condition.

Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Cambridge, MA, have created a pill with a complex coating designed to shield the insulin from the acidic environment of the stomach and only dissolve in the small intestine. While other investigators have experimented with oral therapy in the past, many were unsuccessful because the pills failed to safely carry insulin beyond the barriers of the digestive system and into the bloodstream.

"Once ingested, insulin must navigate a challenging obstacle course before it can be effectively absorbed into the bloodstream," explains senior study author, Dr. Samir Mitragotri, in an interview with Medical News Today.

Insulin delivered orally is a preferable alternative because it has the ability to reach the blood in a way comparable to the natural release of insulin by the pancreas, while also lessening the adverse effects associated with repeated insulin injections.

Easily manufactured and not readily perishable, the new pill would be more cost-effective than other therapies and could also be stored for up to two months at room temperature.

Further studies will be conducted in animal models, followed by clinical trials in humans. Researchers are confident that oral insulin delivery would revolutionize T1D treatment and significantly improve the quality of life of people with diabetes worldwide.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog. 

A researcher from Milan, Italy has discovered that neutrophils – a type of white blood cell that forms an essential part of the immune system – can help identify triggers and predictors of progression to type 1 diabetes (T1D).

In collaboration with TrialNet (an international network of researchers focused on understanding, prevention and treatment of T1D), Dr. Manuela Battaglia of the Ospedale di San Raffaele Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico analyzed the blood tests of 389 people at risk for the disease and discovered that those with a smaller amount of neutrophils have fewer functioning beta cells.

“Essentially, the lower the number of circulating neutrophils the less the body can produce insulin,” explains Dr. Battaglia.

Further analyses of pancreatic samples collected from donors all over the world at four different disease stages revealed that neutrophils release their nucleus’ content, including their DNA, triggering inflammation and increasing the risk of autoimmunization.

Working with the Benaroya Research Institute in Seattle, Dr. Battaglia and her colleagues observed abnormal content in the types and amounts of protein made among circulating neutrophils in individuals at risk for T1D. It was also noted that this behaviour led to the production of specific T1D-autoantibodies indicating that neutrophils may play a crucial role in the early stages of the disease.

Future work will focus on understanding why neutrophils are predictive of T1D, and whether targeting neutrophils can slow or stop its progression.

Dr. Battaglia has been funded by JDRF since 2008 when she was an early career scientist. She has received two subsequent grants to study the role of immunological cells in T1D.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog. 

by Patrick Tohill, Government Relations Director at JDRF

 Were you among those denied the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) between May and December of 2017? Have you heard from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) about your claim? If you’re still waiting, you may need to reach out to the CRA to follow up.

JDRF was thrilled last December when the Minister of National Revenue announced a review of all diabetes claims disallowed last year. A controversial directive and new clarification letter issued in early May of 2017 made it essentially impossible for adults with diabetes to qualify for the DTC unless they had one or more chronic conditions in addition to their diabetes.

This spring, CRA reported to the new Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) on the results of their review. Of 2,367 claims that were reviewed, the DTC was restored for 1,326 Canadians with diabetes. This leaves 941 whose claims remain disallowed following the review.

This is obviously great news for those who’ve regained their DTC eligibility. What some may not realize is that you need to ask CRA for an adjustment of your tax return in order to obtain a refund; a matter of some inconvenience. For info on how to request an adjustment (reassessment) of your tax return see the CRA website.

That said, it is a relief I’m sure for these claimants to see the DTC restored, particularly for those who stood to lose government contributions to their Registered Disability Savings Plans. And these claimants at least have been notified of the outcome of the CRA’s review.

That leaves 941 Canadians with diabetes whose Disability Tax Credit (DTC) claims remain disallowed following the review. JDRF has been in communication with officials in CRA’s benefits directorate over the past few months and it seems that CRA has no intention to notify these claimants.

We are very concerned that these individuals may not be aware that CRA’s process has concluded. We believe that they too should be notified so that they might avail themselves of the appeal processes that would normally be available to them.

We’re also curious to know more about the reasons given for these disallowances. If you fall into this camp, we’d love to hear from you. Please send an email to advocacy@jdrf.ca or contact 1-877-297-3533 ext. 2003

At the end of the day, JDRF is grateful for the action the government took in initiating this review and restoring the DTC for more than a thousand Canadians with diabetes. However, we have some concerns about the large number of claims that remain disallowed, and the fact that people aren’t being notified.

Finally, there still seem to be too many restrictions around eligibility. Fixing what’s wrong with the DTC and RDSP is a big part of JDRF’s Pre-Budget Recommendations this year and will be a big part of our Kids for a Cure Lobby Day at the end of October. You can help support our campaign. Write to the Finance Minister today.

For those who missed it, a new Senate report was released last week called Breaking Down Barriers: A critical analysis of the Disability Tax Credit and the Registered Disability Savings Plan with a series of 16 recommendations aimed at fixing some of the long-standing problems that prevent Canadians with disabilities (including chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes), from accessing the DTC and RDSP.

JDRF has welcomed the report and is broadly supportive of the recommendations. Parents of children with type 1 diabetes as well as adults living with the disease who’ve invested in RDSPs will be pleased with the senators’ recommendation that the period of time between when contributions to RDSPs are made and when they can be withdrawn be reduced to 5 years from 10.  

Also included within the senate’s recommendations are two or three ideas that stem from JDRF’s testimony back in February. For example, the report includes a recommendation that investments and government contributions to RDSPs not be clawed back if the person was eligible for DTC when the investments were made, as well as another that all eligibility criteria for the DTC be reviewed. The report specifically mentions the 14 hour per week rule which JDRF has recommended be reduced to 10 hours, though we’d be happy to see it nixed completely.

One particular amendment we’d like to see in terms of eligibility criteria concerns the exclusion of carbohydrate calculation, which makes absolutely no sense. As anyone with type 1 will tell you, you simply cannot calculate insulin dosage, something that’s included as an eligible activity in the 14 hours, without first calculating the number of carbohydrates you’re consuming.

Unfortunately, Canada Revenue Agency wrongly considers carbohydrate calculation to fall under the category of a dietary restriction and has deemed it to be excluded under the Act. As a result, an application that mentions 280 minutes a week spent determining insulin dosage will be approved and an application mentioning 280 minutes a week calculating carbs will be denied.

JDRF has joined with Diabetes Canada in preparing a joint submission on carb calculation which we’ve submitted to the Disability Advisory Committee, the CRA and the Finance department.

Several of our recommendations around the DTC have also made their way into a Private Member’s Bill, Bill C-399, introduced by Tom Kmiec, MP for Calgary—Shepard in March. The Fairness for Canadians with Disabilities Act would “increase accessibility for disability tax credit for Canadians living with diabetes as well as those with rare disorders”.

We continue our efforts to advocate on behalf of the T1D community. You can help. Check out the Advocacy section of our website, support our online actions and sign up to receive our emails.

For most people, a power failure is a huge inconvenience. However, for someone living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it can be a daunting – and potentially fatal – experience since their insulin needs to be kept refrigerated.

High-school student, Mackenzie Keeler, recognized the challenge and decided to do something about it. Along with a team of 10 other students from M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington (ON), she created a survival kit to ride out extreme weather conditions for people with T1D.

Called Insta-lin, the teens’ invention features crystallized insulin that doesn’t spoil should electricity be lost during a natural disaster. Keeler and her team developed the novel product this past summer in British Columbia while attending SHAD, a pan-Canadian, month-long enrichment and entrepreneurship program for high school students.

Each dose is made by extracting saline from a vial into a syringe where the crystals dissolve into the solution, creating insulin. Along with cotton swabs and bandages, the kit contains 20 adjustable doses of insulin to last 10 days in the event that a support team cannot be dispatched sooner to provide further aid.

“Injectable insulin can only be safe for use between 0°C and 30°C, but Canadian temperatures can fluctuate dramatically,” explains Keeler, in an interview with the Burlington Post. “So we created a product that can last between what we estimate to be between -100°C and 50°C, and withstand those extreme temperatures.”

The theme for this year’s design-entrepreneurship project was how to help Canadian communities be resilient in natural disasters. Participants heard firsthand accounts from experts who had assisted with floods in New Brunswick and Calgary, hurricanes in Nova Scotia and wildfires in British Columbia.

Founded in 1980, SHAD provides the opportunity for more than 900 students from across Canada and internationally to attend its STEAM-based (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) month-long program in-residence at one of its Canadian host universities.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog. 

Sponsored Content

In recent years we’ve seen the arrival of a new tool in the ‘diabetes toolbox’ and it isn’t a new diet or pill. In fact, it’s found inside the smartphone that you likely carry everywhere you go. For people who live with diabetes, many are discovering the benefits of using mobile apps for helping with everything from carb counting to fitness tracking to healthy cooking and blood glucose (BG) monitoring. So how do you know which one might be helpful for you?

Food-Related Apps

1. Carbs & Cals: Diet & Diabetes –  The Carbs & Cals app contains 3,500+ food photos to help you get your portion size just right.   Up to 6 portion photos are provided for each food item and you can choose from carbs, calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, fibre, alcohol units and 5-a-day fruit & veg for the nutrition information provided. You can track meals, snacks and exercise too. Carbs&Cals is available for iOS and Android and costs $4.99.
2. Calorie King® – Provides a quick reference database for easy searching of over 100,000 food items and a full nutrient breakdown is provided. It includes fast food chains and allows barcode scanning. Keep in mind that it is an American database so you won’t be able to find all Canadian restaurants and food products.  The CalorieKing Calorie Counter is only available on iOS. It is free to download and use, but is supported by advertising. 

Activity-Related Apps

App users have been shown to increase exercise levels and have more positive results in managing their weight.  Try a few out and see what works best to get you moving more to help balance out those blood glucose levels.

1.  MyFitnessPal – A smartphone app and website that track exercise to help meet health and weight loss goals.  It also allows tracking of food intake by scanning the barcodes of various food items or manually add them in to the database of over five million different foods.  MyFitnessPal is available on both iOS and Android and is free to download and use, but is supported by advertising.
2.  If you enjoy walking, running or biking, GPS based apps like Strava, Map My Ride/Walk/Run/Fitness and Nike Run Club track your distance, speed, pace and progress over time.  You can discover new routes wherever you are and challenge friends to meet new goals.  Share your workouts with followers who can provide encouragement and supportive messages helping you to stay committed to your fitness routine.  They are all available on both iOS and Android, they sync with multiple trackers and watches and are free with the option of in-app purchases.

 

Blood Glucose Monitoring Apps

And last but certainly not least, there are many options to help you with blood glucose monitoring and diabetes tracking apps to help you manage your individual blood glucose challenges.  Bluetooth® connectivity allows us to simplify diabetes management and data sharing by integrating BG results with food, insulin and activity into a smartphone.  The most downloaded diabetes app in Canada^* is the One Touch Reveal® app, which wirelessly connects with the One Touch Verio Flex® blood glucose meter. It uses ColourSure® technology to transform your BG data into quick, visual personalized snapshots that can highlight when you have been repeatedly out of range.  The app is available for iOS and Android and can be downloaded for free.

*As reported for all diabetes management apps downloaded in Canada in 2017 from Google Play and Apple iOS App Stores. Research2Guidance data Q42017.

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References:

1. https://www.carbsandcals.com/app/app
2. https://www.calorieking.com/
3. https://www.myfitnesspal.com/
4. https://www.strava.com/
5. https://www.mapmyrun.com/
6. https://www.nike.com/ca/en_gb/c/running/nike-run-club

The Bluetooth^® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, and any use of such marks by LifeScan Scotland Ltd. is under license.

 

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Alright, we already know that there are risks associated with drinking alcohol. But is there a way to drink responsibly with diabetes? The answer is yes!

We sat down with our JDRF Marketing & Communications summer student, Evelyn Riddell, who lives with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to get her quick tips on how to drink responsibly with T1D:  

1. Always eat throughout the evening and especially before bed

“We’ve all heard the saying ‘don’t drink on an empty stomach’, and this is especially true for someone with type 1 diabetes. Drinking on an empty stomach can result in faster absorption of the alcohol, as well as more rapid decreases in blood sugar levels. Most importantly, always have some long-acting carbs before bed. These carbs are important for stabilizing you while sleeping, since the alcohol in your system will continue to work to lower blood sugars throughout the night.”

2. “Temp basal” over-night

“Since alcohol can stay in your system for many hours, it is important to take precautions to prevent low blood sugars overnight. A good guideline to follow is to set a temp basal[1] approximately -30% over night. Do this for 1 hour per full drink consumed. For example, if you consumed 4 beers, temp basil -30% for 4 hours. This being said, over time you will figure out how your body responds to alcohol, and based on your tolerance should develop a temp basil routine that works best for you”.

3. Set your alarm in the middle of the night

“Going low in the middle of the night can be a scary experience. Whether you have a Continuous Glucose Monitor or not, set alarms during the night to wake up and check in on your blood sugars. This is especially important if you live alone. If you do live independently, consider staying the night at a friend’s house for extra peace of mind overnight.”

4. Catch the lows before they happen

“If you wear a CGM, try setting the low alerts higher than they would usually be. This will help you to identify and treat lows before they happen. If you do not wear a Continuous Glucose Monitor, check your blood sugar regularly to establish trends and identify lows early.”

5. Always wear a piece of medical ID

“The signs and symptoms of a low blood sugar are extremely similar to those of being intoxicated, and can easily be confused by those around you. Make sure that you have a piece of medical identification for your peers and medical professionals in case of any emergency.”

6. Know what you’re drinking

“Some drinks (such a beer) typically cause you to go low, while more sugar-based drinks cause you to spike now and drop later. It is important to know what you are drinking, in order to be aware of/prepare for your blood sugars later on; eating while consuming drinks with high alcohol content is a good idea to prevent lows later on, eating while consuming heavily sugared drinks isn’t as wise since it will only spike your blood sugar higher for the short term. Make sure you know what type you’re drinking.”

7. Make sure a friend knows about your condition and understands how to help

“That way if you tell them you’re low, they can help you locate some fast acting snacks (or better yet, have some for you!).”

We hope these tips help you enjoy good times with your friends and family while keeping your blood sugar levels in check. The main thing is to remember to drink responsibly by remaining conscious of all the factors mentioned above.

What if we were able to tell what some of the triggers for type 1 diabetes (T1D) are? A JDRF-supported project aims to do just that.

The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) is following more than 7,000 at-risk children from infancy to 15 years of age to determine the causes of T1D. Six groups of researchers from across the world are collaborating to examine the impact of diet, illnesses, allergies and a host of other life experiences among children who are highly susceptible to the disease. The study population comes from three U.S. clinical centers in Seattle, Denver, and a combined group from the Augusta-Atlanta areas in Georgia and Gainesville, Florida, plus centers in Sweden, Finland and Germany.

JDRF investigator and TEDDY study coordinator at the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine, Dr. Jeffrey Krischer, unveiled new results that identify clues as to what causes some people to progress to T1D and others to be protected. At the last American Diabetes Association’s conference held in June, he presented findings suggesting there is a correlation between age of onset, genetics and the type of autoantibodies that appear initially.

Dr. Krischer revealed that children who develop islet autoimmunity early tend to progress faster to T1D due to the development of antibodies attacking the individual’s own proteins (called autoantibodies). Those who develop islet autoimmunity later in childhood, however, tend to develop different autoantibodies and progress more slowly.

“We are investigating different etiological factors related to pathogenesis and also how autoimmunity progresses to diabetes,” says Dr. Krischer. “This is brand new information and vitally important for everyone who is dealing with children who show signs of autoimmunity, and the initiation of processes leading to clinical diabetes.”

Funded by JDRF, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and other organizations, the TEDDY consortium was created to advance our understanding of how environment alters immunity, bringing us closer to prevention of T1D. JDRF has supported TEDDY since its inception in 2004, and is currently funding Dr. Krischer for follow-up of children taking part in the study.

For more informative articles on health and type 1 diabetes, visit our JDRF Blog. 

By Evelyn Riddell

When I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 12, I knew nothing about the disease. How could I, when there was rarely any mention of it in the media?

Last spring, Aerie hosted an open competition looking for women to appear in the store’s campaign – #AerieREAL. I entered by filming a 30-second video of myself explaining why I wear Aerie bras, and what the #AerieREAL message means to me.

Staying true to Aerie’s slogan – “Don’t change you, change your bra!”, its creative team prioritizes the comfort and safety of their models. In fact, there was never any staging; every time that I would put on a new outfit I placed my pump where it felt natural. While working at my most recent photo shoot, I experienced a low blood sugar on set for the first time. The Aerie team was incredibly helpful and eager to learn how to assist me in any way as needed.

Since the campaign launch, I have received a flood of support from the T1D community. That is how I knew this campaign was not only about me but about all those individuals living with T1D who see themselves reflected in me. I never expected to make so many personal connections with strangers who bravely shared their stories. I have received pictures of girls wearing their Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) proudly with their prom dress, and others from parents of children wearing their devices visibly for the first time with a huge smile to match. 

I would like to thank the T1D community for its support and its overwhelming acceptance. Similarly, I am appreciative of the media outlets that covered this story, and I hope it encourages more companies to embrace Aerie’s body-positive message. I look forward to the future and to more opportunities to represent the T1D community on a national scale.

Until then, I will continue to advocate, educate, raise awareness, and support individuals living with T1D.

Instagram – @evie_ann

Twitter – @evie_ann_

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