18
NEWS
World Diabetes Day 2024
An overview of some of the many events and items
of news that took place on 16 November, the date
allocated as World Diabetes Day (WDD) annually.
New partnership
Kinetik Wellbeing announced that it
is now working in partnership with
Diabetes UK, with the aim to help
those living with diabetes across the
UK better manage their diabetes
from home. This partnership also
aims to help alleviate pressure on
the NHS, which currently spends
an estimated £10.7bn annually on
diabetes care - 60% of which goes
toward treating complications.
That is why Kinetik Wellbeing is
looking to align their diabetes range
with the priorities of the NHS to
help reduce these complications,
ensuring that where possible
they work closely with healthcare
professionals to develop and share
their products and pricing. Kinetik
Wellbeing is passionate about
increasing accessibility to technology
that enhances the lives of those
living with diabetes. As part of this
partnership, they will be launching
co-branded products with Diabetes
UK that will be available on the
shelves of the UK's most loved
supermarkets and retail stores in
early 2025.
James Grover, CEO of Kinetik
Wellbeing commented, "Diabetes
UK has made remarkable strides in
diabetes care over the years, and
we are delighted to join forces with
them. Beyond offering advice and
support to individuals with diabetes,
they also conduct life-changing
research. We want to help support
their crucial mission, which is why
we'll be making a donation for every
device sold in our diabetes range,
helping them make an even greater
impact on the fight against diabetes."
Claire Hall, speaking for Diabetes
UK added, "We're excited to be
partnering with Kinetik Wellbeing,
their support will help us further
our mission of supporting people to
live better and more confident lives
with diabetes, as well as helping to
fund our research to find a cure.
The company is one of the UK's
leading suppliers of home-use
medical devices, they are dedicated
to empowering individuals to take
control of their health from the
comfort of their homes."
New research
Diabetes UK reported that the
Diabetes Grand Challenge had
funded three new projects to replace
insulin-making beta cells in people
with Type 1 diabetes.
The new projects take inspiration
from ticks, brain cells and tiny
molecules that influence our genes.
Dr Craig Beall and Dr Thomas Piers at
the University of Exeter will explore
whether a type of brain cell that
makes insulin can be used to develop
long-lasting, effective beta cell
therapies for T1D which are resistant
to the Type 1 immune attack.
Dr Aida Martinez-Sanchez and
Dr Prashant Srivastava at Imperial
College London will investigate how
tiny molecules called microRNAs
change the function of insulinmaking beta
cells, while Prof Shoumo
Bhattacharya and Prof David Hodson
at the University of Oxford will take
inspiration from tick saliva to develop
a defence mechanism for beta cells
transplanted into people with T1D.
Daniel Newman
"Yesterday was World Diabetes
Day. This year's celebration was
different for me as I was invited by
Insulet Corporation to the Nasdaq
closing bell ceremony on the day
to mark World Diabetes Day. I met
fellow podders, the Insulet CEO, the
leadership team and others working
at the company What came across
was the commitment to wanting to
make a difference for those living
with diabetes. World Diabetes Day
is a day for us to come together
as a community to celebrate, raise
awareness of our condition and enjoy
the progress that has been made.
I'm super grateful that I had this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
celebrate WDD differently and it's a
memory I won't forget."