Beth Cole, Corporate Development Manager for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) gave us some background on Juvenile Diabetes. Founded in 1970, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the worldwide leader for research to cure type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is caused by a failure to regulate glucose from the pancreases because of insulin being too low. The primary forms of diabetes are type 1, or juvenile diabetes, caused by a breakdown of the autoimmune system which weakens the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin, and type 2, often called adult onset, in which insulin production or use is affected usually be a combination of bad diet and lack of exercise. Last week’s High Gear had extensive information and background written by Dirk Hudson. That material will not be repeated, but if you did not read I recommend it to you.

Beth played a short Public Service Announcement that featured young kids (typically the onset of juvenile diabetes is from 0-4 years of age) cheering for a cure to Juvenile Diabetes. She said that much research is done by facilities funded by the JDRF such as USC, UCLA and UCSB in the local area. The UCSB project is the most encouraging since it is looking into creating an artificial pancreas which may be the next best thing to the cure that JDRF is looking for.

Maura Hudson (Dirk’s daughter) gave a moving personal testimonial about her experience when her daughter (Miranda) came down with the disease at the age of 3. The disease struck while they were returning from vacation in Scotland. The signs started with extreme thirst, frequent urination and excessive need for food. Maura related how much she needed to learn about the care for her daughter, particularly blood testing and injections. She estimated that from the ages of 3 to 5 her daughter had 7,000 blood tests and injections. Maura also had to teach Dirk and Sharon how to do the injections so they could do it when they baby sat.

Next Sharon Hudson (Dirk’s wife) spoke about the support that JDRF provides to the families of Juvenile Diabetes. They give a backpack and bear (Rufus) that is complete with areas that can be injected to bring comfort to children such as her granddaughter Miranda. She spoke about the Rotarian magazine that has featured support for Juvenile Diabetes in several articles over the past two years. She said having contact with other parents and grandparents whose children have the disease is very important for mutual support.

Dirk spoke last and briefly saying his wife and daughter had covered what he would have said. He added that, (as with the previous situation with polio) juvenile diabetes was expanding into an epidemic international in scope.  As a result (as had previously happened with polio), in 2006 Rotary International, Lions International, JDRF, and other diabetes organizations were able to get November 14 declared World Diabetes day. Last year Arcadia Rotary participated with Team Miranda Sarah (named for his granddaughter) which consisted of Hudson family members and friends. This year Arcadia Rotary joined by Rotarians from other clubs will have their own “Team Rotary” on November 7th at Dodger Stadium “Walk for the Cure” sponsored by JDRF, where you can walk around the stadium and then around the outfield while raising money for JDRF. Last year about 15,000 people from the greater Los Angeles area  participated in the Dodger Stadium Walk, as similar walks took place throughout the country. Sign up with Mike Ojeda our club member who is captain of Team Rotary.

What a wonderful program that mixed an outside speaker with our own Hudsons who provided a very personal touch.