World Diabetes Day highlights growing problem but also hope for cure

11.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 15th Nov 2007

Sarah Ludford with (right) co-chair of European Parliament diabetes working group John Bowis MEP and chair of JDRF UK, Steve Hitchins (who is also Sarah´s husband)

On November 14th London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford joined other members of the European Parliament to mark the first ever UN World Diabetes Day, devoted this year to diabetes in children and young people.

A group of young people from 7 to 24 from across the EU came to tell their story to MEPs, who also heard about treatment and, from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), about research into a cure for Type 1 diabetes. A large blue circle, the symbol of World Diabetes Day, was erected at the entrance to the European Parliament as well as on a host of iconic buildings across Europe such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and our own London Eye.

Sarah, who with a family involvement takes a keen interest in the disease and is a supporter of JDRF, said:

"31 million EU citizens currently live with diabetes and the number is growing fast. The disease reduces life expectancy on average by 20 years and causes many heath complications. While many people know about Type 2 or 'late onset' diabetes which may be connected to diet, this year's event has highlighted diabetes in children and young people, especially the much less well-known Type 1 or 'juvenile' diabetes."

"It is a shocking fact that 70,000 children under 14 years develop type 1 diabetes every year, that is 200 a day, and the top 10 countries in terms of incidence are mostly European. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is growing by 3% per year in children and adolescents, and at an alarming 5% per year among pre-school children. An additional worrying trend is that children and adolescents are increasingly affected by type 2 diabetes, a condition which used to affect mostly adults."

"So there needs to be more research, including through EU funding, both into treatment but also the exciting possibilities for finding a cure. I applaud the youngsters who came to tell us about how they are living their lives to the full with diabetes, but the best response we can make is to boost research so they and others can have lifted from them the shadow of future health worries."