In the United States, 23.6 million people, or 7.8 percent of the population, have some type of diabetes.
Since its founding in 1970, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or JDRF, has become the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research worldwide. In type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, a hormone necessary to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.
“Juvenile diabetes is a cruel disease. It strikes seemingly healthy people, mostly children, although it does strike adults, very suddenly and wreaks havoc on the body,” said Katherine Griswold, development manager of the San Diego Chapter of JDRF. “Insulin, through multiple daily injections or a pump, keeps the patient alive, but insulin is not a cure, it is merely life support. We need to find the cure and JDRF is committed to that goal.”
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Griswold to talk more about the nonprofit, which was founded by parents of children with type 1 diabetes.
CBJ: What is the organization's mission?
Griswold: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. We are driven to find a cure for type 1 diabetes because of the devastating nature of the disease, which is difficult to manage and carries the constant threat of serious complications. Not only do we want a cure, we want it quickly.
CBJ: What services does your chapter provide?
Griswold: JDRF provides money for vital research to find a cure for diabetes and improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes while a cure is sought. There is a lot of research funded by JDRF going on in the San Diego area. JDRF has a teen support group, a family network and provides regular research updates that enable our constituents to see how their money is being put to good use.
CBJ: How many people has your chapter helped since it was established?
Griswold: JDRF as an organization has given more than $1 billion to research since our founding. In San Diego County, we raised close to $3 million in fiscal year 2008 and JDRF has given $13 million to San Diego researchers since 2000.
CBJ: How do you find the people your organization assists?
Griswold: We have a program called Bag of Hope. Newly diagnosed children are referred to JDRF and we deliver a packet of information to the family and connect them to a mentor family that can help them through that very tough time.
CBJ: How does the organization differ from other similar nonprofits?
Griswold: For every dollar we raise, 85 cents or more goes to research or education about research. We keep our costs low and our impact strong through our amazing network of volunteers and corporate partners.
CBJ: What needs does JDRF have?
Griswold: We are always in need of volunteers, corporate sponsors, in-kind donations and leadership on our board of directors.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the foundation? Griswold: We often say we are in business to put ourselves out of business, and we're serious about that. We see a future without diabetes and believe the research we are funding will lead to the cure. We also continue to expand our network of families dealing with type 1 diabetes, connecting people to one another so that resources and support can be shared.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Griswold: Research breakthroughs are making a difference. Recently, a major clinical trial funded by JDRF found that people with type 1 diabetes who used continuous glucose monitoring devices to help manage their disease experienced significant improvements in blood sugar control. Some of that research was done in San Diego and the impact it could have on preventing complications is significant.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:
5677 Oberlin Drive, Ste. 110, San Diego
(858) 597-0240
www.jdrfsd.org
Since its founding in 1970, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or JDRF, has become the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research worldwide. In type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, a hormone necessary to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.
“Juvenile diabetes is a cruel disease. It strikes seemingly healthy people, mostly children, although it does strike adults, very suddenly and wreaks havoc on the body,” said Katherine Griswold, development manager of the San Diego Chapter of JDRF. “Insulin, through multiple daily injections or a pump, keeps the patient alive, but insulin is not a cure, it is merely life support. We need to find the cure and JDRF is committed to that goal.”
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Griswold to talk more about the nonprofit, which was founded by parents of children with type 1 diabetes.
CBJ: What is the organization's mission?
Griswold: To find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. We are driven to find a cure for type 1 diabetes because of the devastating nature of the disease, which is difficult to manage and carries the constant threat of serious complications. Not only do we want a cure, we want it quickly.
CBJ: What services does your chapter provide?
Griswold: JDRF provides money for vital research to find a cure for diabetes and improve the lives of those living with type 1 diabetes while a cure is sought. There is a lot of research funded by JDRF going on in the San Diego area. JDRF has a teen support group, a family network and provides regular research updates that enable our constituents to see how their money is being put to good use.
CBJ: How many people has your chapter helped since it was established?
Griswold: JDRF as an organization has given more than $1 billion to research since our founding. In San Diego County, we raised close to $3 million in fiscal year 2008 and JDRF has given $13 million to San Diego researchers since 2000.
CBJ: How do you find the people your organization assists?
Griswold: We have a program called Bag of Hope. Newly diagnosed children are referred to JDRF and we deliver a packet of information to the family and connect them to a mentor family that can help them through that very tough time.
CBJ: How does the organization differ from other similar nonprofits?
Griswold: For every dollar we raise, 85 cents or more goes to research or education about research. We keep our costs low and our impact strong through our amazing network of volunteers and corporate partners.
CBJ: What needs does JDRF have?
Griswold: We are always in need of volunteers, corporate sponsors, in-kind donations and leadership on our board of directors.
CBJ: What do you see for the future of the foundation? Griswold: We often say we are in business to put ourselves out of business, and we're serious about that. We see a future without diabetes and believe the research we are funding will lead to the cure. We also continue to expand our network of families dealing with type 1 diabetes, connecting people to one another so that resources and support can be shared.
CBJ: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Griswold: Research breakthroughs are making a difference. Recently, a major clinical trial funded by JDRF found that people with type 1 diabetes who used continuous glucose monitoring devices to help manage their disease experienced significant improvements in blood sugar control. Some of that research was done in San Diego and the impact it could have on preventing complications is significant.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:
5677 Oberlin Drive, Ste. 110, San Diego
(858) 597-0240
www.jdrfsd.org