Our Impact
From funding innovative research to advocating for government action to providing a support structure for our community, no other organization does more to fight type 1 diabetes (T1D) than JDRF.
Research
Our research investments deliver on the promise of making life with Type 1 Diabetes better. We’ve championed technology with that goal in mind, from the first engineered insulin 40 years ago to recent advancements like artificial pancreas systems and more.
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Our powerhouse team in Washington, D.C., works with volunteers across the country to secure government support for innovative Type 1 Diabetes research. Meanwhile, our experts collaborate with regulators and health plans to help the entire community benefit from treatments and therapies.
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The Outlook has Never Been Better
JDRF has changed the way we live with T1D. Everyday, we are learning more about the disease in an effort to end it once and for all.
Insulins
Less than 50 years ago, insulins were derived from animals, and dosing was wildly inconsistent.
Synthetic insulins with a range of speeds and durations offer the precision and flexibility to better balance blood-sugar levels.
Pumps
50 years ago, a prototype insulin pump was so large it had to be worn like a backpack.
Compact insulin pumps fit easily in a pocket—and they’ve gotten smarter too.
Biomarkers
30 years ago, there was no way to predict if someone would develop T1D.
It is possible to detect T1D before symptoms arise, avoiding adverse side effects.
Beta Cell Biology
For decades, experts believed that beta cells stopped functioning altogether within a few years of T1D onset.
We know beta cells continue to function even after decades with T1D, and it might be possible to cure T1D by preserving or expanding these beta cells.
Diabetic Eye Disease
35 years ago, the risk of vision loss from diabetic eye disease was 50 percent.
State-of-the-art care has cut the risk to 5 percent, and therapies to eliminate the remaining risk are in development.
You Too Can Make a Difference
Without clinical trial volunteers, promising new therapies can’t get approved, and into the hands of people who need them. You can help by participating in a trial near you.
A Leader With Leverage
For every $1 from JDRF, more than $2 is invested in T1D Research.
When you give to JDRF, you help unlock millions of additional dollars for T1D research.
Your donation to JDRF is the crucial first step in the quest for a cure.