Research released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate that an average of 2100 Australians are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year, a large proportion of which are children aged between 0-14 years.
Australia has one of the highest incidences of type 1 diabetes in the world for reasons that are currently unknown – but with 9 in 10 people with type 1 having no apparent family connection to the disease, scientists strongly believe in the involvement of an unidentified environmental trigger.
According to JDRF Head of Research Development, Dr Dorota Pawlak, a number of suspects have been scrutinised including early exposure to cows milk, gut bacteria, viral infection and vitamin D levels.
“Globally, scientists are learning more all the time about the complex genetic and environmental causes of this disease, and clinical trials aimed at identifying the environmental component are underway in the US and Europe.”
“It is likely, however, that different environmental triggers may have varying impact depending on geographical location – a good example of this is the “hygiene hypothesis” where it appears that the more sanitised the country, the higher the rate of type 1 diabetes.”
“Large-scale research trials such as the TEDDY Study aim to deliver initial results by 2020, but the lack of Australian participation means those results may not reflect environmental triggers affecting local kids.”
JDRF CEO, Mike Wilson, says that this report provides strong evidence for the urgent need for Australia to invest in clinical trials to prevent new cases and deliver a cure for the 122,300 Australians known to be living with type 1 diabetes already.
“Australian type 1 diabetes researchers are internationally respected and have led a number of international trials in the past.”
“The number of Australian patients participating in clinical trials has been diminishing despite the growth in new clinical trials overseas.”
“Australian children continue to suffer high incidence rates of this debilitating condition compared to other countries so a lack of access to clinical trials is a major concern.”