20
NEWS
Dads likelier to pass on T1D
Young and adult children of mothers with Type 1 diabetes are almost
half as likely be diagnosed with this condition, compared with those
with affected fathers, new research has found.
In general, individuals with a family history of Type 1 diabetes
have an 8 to15 times higher risk of developing this condition than
the general population. Researchers performed a meta-analysis
across five cohort studies involving 11,475 individuals diagnosed with
Type 1 diabetes and compared the proportion of individuals with
Type 1 diabetes with affected fathers vs mothers and explored if this
comparison was altered by the age at diagnosis and the timing of
parental diagnosis relative to the birth of the offspring.
The research found that individuals with Type 1 diabetes were
found to have almost twice as likely to have a father with the
condition than a mother, and the protective effect of maternal
diabetes was evident regardless of whether the individuals were
diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes before or after age 18 years.
"Understanding why having a mother compared with a father with
Type 1 diabetes offers a relative protection against Type 1 diabetes
could help us develop new ways to prevent Type 1 diabetes, such
as treatments that mimic some of the protective elements from
mothers," said Lowri Allen, MBChB, an author of this study.
JDRF Discovery
Day
JDRF is hosting a Discovery Day in Swansea on
12 October, described as "an informative event
dedicated to exploring the world of Type 1
diabetes."
Attendees will see the latest developments
in Type 1 diabetes research, hear from experts
in the field and connect with others living with
Type 1 diabetes.
The event is intended to be family-friendly,
open to adults and children affected by Type 1
diabetes, as well as health care professionals.
There will be speaker sessions by expert
healthcare professionals and individuals living
with Type 1 diabetes. Each session will cover
a range of engaging and informative topics,
including research, wellbeing and Type 1 tech.
There will also be a lived experience panel
discussion, where audience members will have
the opportunity to ask questions about managing
and living with Type 1 diabetes.
The event is free and there are two different
ticket options available:
• Full admission.
• Tech exhibition
To register, or find out more, CLICK HERE.
Patient push back in US
Novo Nordisk's decision to stop selling its long-acting insulin
Levemir in the United States has left some diabetes patients
struggling to switch treatments, according to some patients and
doctors.
The Danish drugmaker said in November that it would halt
US sales of Levemir by the end of 2024, claiming that there are
other options for patients on the market. Many health plans no
longer cover the drug, which went off patent in 2019,
Advocacy groups estimate that over 1m people in the United
States were using Levemir in 2021. Some people with Type
1 diabetes, as well as parents of pediatric patients, are now
stockpiling the remaining supply of Levemir and using vials they
have on hand beyond their expiration date, while hoping that
lobbying effort will keep the drug on the market. They say that
Levemir is better suited for youth and others with an active
lifestyle, since doses can be adjusted more frequently than with
other long-acting insulins.
A new group of parents and patients, called the Alliance to
Protect Insulin Choice, have taken their Levemir concern to
Capitol Hill. Their petition, urging Novo Nordisk to continue
making Levemir, has garnered over 4,000 signatures, said Alison
Smart, one of the parents who set up the group.
Three US Senators have called on Novo Nordisk to continue
manufacturing Levemir until other drugmakers can make
a cheaper, biosimilar version, and are also asking Novo to
hasten a close alternative to market by either helping facilitate
introduction of a biosimilar product or making the patents
available so others might do so.