DRC & Research News

This page shares the latest news in T1D research and DRC’s community.

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type 1 diabetes resource center

Introducing Our New Type 1 Diabetes Resource Center

As an organization devoted to making a difference in the lives of those with type 1 diabetes and their caretakers by funding innovative scientific researching into ways to treat, cure and prevent T1D, it’s important to us that we’re supporting those with T1D in any way we can.

In a recent survey sent to our donors, we learned that 89% felt that there is a lack of education about living with the disease, and another 89% felt that there is a lack of education about current type 1 diabetes research. 55% of those we surveyed said they felt a lack of emotional support, and 77% said they felt that the people they interact with on a daily basis don’t understand what type 1 diabetes is. Perhaps most astounding, 100% of those we surveyed agreed that there is a lack of type 1 diabetes awareness among those not living with the disease.

Additionally, we found that our donors would like to learn more about living with type 1 diabetes, and that they especially wanted to learn more about current research being done into preventing, treating and curing type 1 diabetes.

To help meet this need for diabetes awareness and education, we’re proud to present our new type 1 diabetes resources center. We’ve scoured the internet and curated the best resources we can find for those with T1D, parents and family of those diagnosed with T1D and anyone else interested in learning more about the disease.

[su_button url=”https://drcsite.wpengine.com/type-1-diabetes-resources/” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#64b243″ size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: angle-right”]View Our Type 1 Diabetes Resources[/su_button]

Find the Type 1 Diabetes Information and Resources You Need

In our type 1 diabetes resource center, you’ll find links to all the information you need, including:

  • A basic overview of type 1 diabetes
  • Information about the true cost of type 1 diabetes
  • Tips for managing type 1 diabetes or supporting a loved who with diabetes
  • Where to find support online
  • Food and fitness tips, including delicious diabetic-friendly recipes and great workouts
  • Information about what puts people at risk for developing type 1 diabetes
  • An overview of current type 1 diabetes research
  • Ways to get involved in diabetes research

Looking for even more tips, information and resources about type 1 diabetes? Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter!

For more information about the type 1 diabetes research we’re helping to fund, check out our active projects.

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diabetes research

Get Involved in Innovative Type 1 Diabetes Research

We were established in 2012 by five proponents of diabetes research, and our visionis to support innovative scientific inquiry until type 1 diabetes is eliminated. However, we can’t do it without the valuable contributions from our donors and supporters.

Want to get involved in type 1 diabetes research? Read below to find out how you can make a difference.

Help Fund Type 1 Diabetes Research

Many scientific breakthroughs come from the inventiveness of early-career scientists. Unfortunately, mainstream funding rarely goes to support these innovative researchers, with 97% of funding for type 1 diabetes research going to established scientists. This means that it’s often hard for new diabetes research ideas to get off the ground.

That’s where the Diabetes Research Connection comes in; we grant up to $50,000 to support type 1 diabetes research from early-career scientists.

Consider financially supporting one of the following type 1 diabetes research projects.

Gene-Specific Models and Therapies for Type 1 Diabetes

Multiple genetic factors contribute to type 1 diabetes, but researchers are limited to using mice models with one genetic profile. Jeremy Racine, Ph.D. of The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine is working to create a new mouse model with a genetic blank slate for insertion of relevant HLA gene variants that are related to the development of diabetes. Additionally, he plans to test a therapy that has been specifically designed for a diabetes susceptible gene variation known as HLA-A*0201 (A2.1). Click here to support this project. 

Identify Biomarkers for Susceptibility to Both Type 1 Diabetes and Mental Disorders

Recent studies have found that those with diabetes have a much higher rate of depression, and young people with type 1 diabetes have a much higher rate of suicide than their peers. Agata Jurcyzk, Ph.D., a research instructor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is working to identify genetic signatures in white blood cells that distinguish non-progressor T1D patients and T1D patients that progress to psychiatric illness. Click here to support this project.

Regrowth of Beta Cells with Small Molecule Therapy

Type 1 diabetes develops when beta cells are destroyed and the body can no longer produce enough insulin to convert the sugar we eat into energy. Peter Thompson, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of California San Francisco Diabetes Center, is working to identify new events during the progression to T1D in order to design new interventions that could prevent or reverse the progression to T1D. Click here to support this project. 

Replacement Beta-Cells From An Unexpected Source

A cure for diabetes will involve replacing the insulin-producing beta cells that have been lost due to the disease. Joseph Lancman, Ph.D. of Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is researching to find a way to make in vivo cell lineage reprogramming safe and practical. This will make it possible to convert nearly any cell type into replacement beta cells, without removing them from the body. Click here to support this project.

Participate in Diabetes Research Studies

Diabetes Research Connection is currently partnering with four great research studies, but there are many more type 1 diabetes studies currently taking place. If you would like to get involved in these, consider participating in a type 1 diabetes clinical research study. We suggest checking out Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet.

TrialNet is a network of researchers seeking to prevent, delay or reverse the progression of type 1 diabetes. The organization works with 18 Clinical Centers in the U.S. and across the globe, and also partners with more than 150 medical centers and doctors’ offices.

Studies are available for those recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, as well as those who have relatives with type 1 diabetes who are at a greater risk of developing the disease. You’ll need to participate in a screening to find out if you are eligible to join a TrialNet study.

For more information about type 1 diabetes research, sign up for our monthly newsletter!

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beer flight

Thank You For Attending The Brews & Blood Sugar Event

The Diabetes Research Connection and the diaTribe Foundation would like to thank everyone who attended the “Brews & Blood Sugar” event on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at the Stone Brewing Taproom in San Diego, CA.

Over 100 people sampled beer from one of San Diego’s premier breweries, learned how different varieties of beer affect blood sugar and supported efforts to find solutions for those with diabetes. Guests also enjoyed a special tribute to QUALCOMMLIFE.

Thank you to our sponsors: JDRF, Livongo, Profil Institute for Clinical Research, Tandem Diabetes Care and Gig Town. Without your support, the event would not have been possible. It was impressive to see all of the major players in diabetes together, working towards a common goal.

DRC is a nonprofit that connects donors with early-career scientists so that they can perform peer-reviewed, novel research in order to treat, cure and prevent type 1 diabetes. The diaTribe Foundation is a nonprofit committed to improving the lives of people with diabetes and prediabetes.

Brews & Blood Sugar

 

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type 1 diabetes mortality study

Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes in the DCCT/EDIC Versus the General Population

Original article published by Diabetes Care. Click here to read the original article.

Objective

Historically, mortality in type 1 diabetes has exceeded that in the general population.
We compared mortality in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/
Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study
cohort to that of the current general U.S. population.

Research Design and Methods

The DCCT (1983–1993) compared intensive versus conventional therapy, with
HbA1c levels of ∼7 vs. 9%, respectively, over an average of 6.5 years of treatment.
EDIC is the observational follow-up study of the DCCT (1994 to the present). Vital
status was ascertained for 97.5% of the original DCCT cohort (n = 1,441) after a
mean of 27 years follow-up. Expected mortality during DCCT/EDIC was estimated
using the current age-, sex-, and race-specific risks in the general U.S. population,
and the observed versus expected mortality compared using standardized mortality
ratios (SMRs) and Poisson regression models.

Results

Mortality in the DCCT intensive therapy group was nonsignificantly lower than
that in the general U.S. population (SMR = 0.88 [95% CI 0.67, 1.16]), whereas
mortality in the DCCT conventional therapy group was significantly greater than
that in the general population (SMR = 1.31 [95% CI 1.05, 1.65]). The SMR increased
with increasing mean HbA1c, and above an HbA1c of 9%, the rate of increase in SMR
among females was greater than that among males.

Conclusions

Overall mortality in the combined DCCT/EDIC cohort was similar to that of the
general population but was higher in the DCCT conventional therapy group. Mortality
increased significantly with increasing mean HbA1c, more so among females
than males, especially for HbA1c >9%.

[su_button url=”http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/39/8/1378.1.full.pdf” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#64b243″ size=”6″ center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon=”icon: angle-right”]Continue Reading[/su_button]

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OUR PROJECTS

See our approved research projects and campaigns.

Role of the integrated stress response in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis
In individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the insulin-producing beta cells are spontaneously destroyed by their own immune system. The trigger that provokes the immune system to destroy the beta cells is unknown. However, accumulating evidence suggest that signals are perhaps first sent out by the stressed beta cells that eventually attracts the immune cells. Stressed cells adapt different stress mitigation systems as an adaptive response. However, when these adaptive responses go awry, it results in cell death. One of the stress response mechanisms, namely the integrated stress response (ISR) is activated under a variety of stressful stimuli to promote cell survival. However, when ISR is chronically activated, it can be damaging to the cells and can lead to cell death. The role of the ISR in the context of T1D is unknown. Therefore, in this DRC funded study, we propose to study the ISR in the beta cells to determine its role in propagating T1D.
Wearable Skin Fluorescence Imaging Patch for the Detection of Blood Glucose Level on an Engineered Skin Platform
zhang
A Potential Second Cure for T1D by Re-Educating the Patient’s Immune System
L Ferreira
Validating the Hypothesis to Cure T1D by Eliminating the Rejection of Cells From Another Person by Farming Beta Cells From a Patient’s Own Stem Cells
Han Zhu
Taming a Particularly Lethal Category of Cells May Reduce/Eliminate the Onset of T1D
JRDwyer 2022 Lab 1
Can the Inhibition of One Specific Body Gene Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?
Melanie
Is Cholesterol Exacerbating T1D by Reducing the Functionality and Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells?
Regeneration Ability of Residual Beta Cells
A Call to Question… Is T1D Caused by Dysfunctionality of Two Pancreatic Cells (β and α)?
Xin Tong
Novel therapy initiative with potential path to preventing T1D by targeting TWO components of T1D development (autoimmune response and beta-cell survival)
flavia pecanha