Donate before 30 June to help us find a cure for diabetes.
Diabetes is a relentless condition to manage, requiring significant effort every day to keep
glucose levels within a safe range. This is to avoid both low and high glucose levels, which can cause serious short and long‐term complications, like blindness and kidney failure. 90 Victorians develop diabetes every day… making it the fastest growing chronic condition in our state.
Right now, there are more than 383,000 Victorians registered as living with diabetes, and by 2026 our projections show that number is set to exceed 500,000.
But we must look to the future with hope, and your generous support can help us to make much-needed breakthroughs.
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Your donations can make a difference
Marcus, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 18 months old.Diabetes can affect people of all ages, just like Marcus who was only 18 months old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.“Marcus’ diagnosis certainly changed our lives… we had to learn how to give injections to a toddler who did not want them. It was really tough,” shares Enza, Marcus’ mother. These days, Marcus and his family do a fantastic job of managing his type 1 diabetes. Marcus is now a teenager. He has a pump, which means fewer injections. He also has a glucose sensor which brings his parents a sense of reassurance, as they can monitor his glucose levels from afar via their phone when he is playing sports, during sleepovers and when he’s at school. With your help, we can continue to support people living with diabetes, like Marcus, and bring hope for a brighter future. |   | ||||
  | Professor Helen Thomas, Head of Immunology and Diabetes, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research.One person working towards a better future is Professor Helen Thomas. With 30 years of diabetes research behind her, Professor Thomas is now focussed on the development of drugs that will ultimately stop the destruction of important cells in the pancreas.“Our funding (from Diabetes Victoria) last year was for a research project to test drugs that may work to slow down or prevent beta cell loss. Beta cells are the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Through our research we have seen protection from diabetes and reversal of diabetes with these drugs in a pre-clinical model,” says Professor Thomas. Understanding more about how the JAK protein and inhibitors work will help us recognise who might be at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes, and gain insight into the onset and progression of diabetes. It’s thanks to people like you that we are able to fund Professor Thomas’ research, which is making real progress! | ||||
Alan, living with type 2 diabetes.Alan was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999 following his retirement. The diagnosis was a complete surprise to him.“I went to the doctor for a minor reason, and as part of his process he undertook some tests and said, ‘You have diabetes!’” Alan has managed his diabetes with support from his family and medical practitioners. While he occasionally has hypos (when his glucose levels are too low) and hypers (when his glucose levels are too high), he has learned how to deal with them. “I try not to worry about my diabetes too much. I try to get on with life, ensuring I have jellybeans in my wagon (for the hypos) and take my medication (to avoid the hypers).” But Alan knows that diabetes is still a serious condition. Heart attacks, strokes, amputations, blindness and kidney failure are all more common among people with diabetes than among people without diabetes. This means medical interventions and hospital stays are also more likely for people with diabetes. We believe in a future where diabetes can do no harm. With your help, we believe this future is possible. |   |
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With your vital support, we can continue to make progress in our research to help people living with diabetes like Marcus and bring hope for a brighter future.
Donate here or call 1300 437 386 today.
