Type 1 Diabetes Group Grows: JDRF “Breakthrough T1D”

of Type 1 diabetes The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, has changed its name to “Breakthrough T1D” to emphasize its mission of helping people of all ages affected by the disease.

The new name was announced at the organization's Government Day conference in Washington, DC on June 4, 2024.Breakthrough T1D “The awards were selected through a rigorous, data-driven process because they more accurately reflect a nonprofit's ability to connect with and serve the entire type 1 diabetes community,” the organization said in a statement.

T1D is an autoimmune disease. Insulin T1D, which is produced in the pancreas, was previously thought to only occur in childhood, “but we now know that it can occur at any age, regardless of family history,” the statement said.

In fact, according to data collected from the T1D Index, the average age of people living with T1D worldwide is 37. Around one in five people are under the age of 20, two-thirds are between the ages of 20 and 64, and another one in five are over the age of 65.

The organization was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes and was originally called the Childhood Diabetes Foundation, with the “research” part added in 2012 to reflect that aspect of its mission.

“For more than half a century, our organization has been at the forefront of type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, and I am honored to serve as CEO at this landmark moment as our organization adopts a name that more accurately reflects our community and priorities,” Dr. Aaron J. Kowalski, CEO of Breakthrough T1D, said in a statement.

“As adults with type 1 diabetes and as scientists, I believe our new name, Breakthrough T1D, will help us better engage and support the entire community as we move toward a cure for type 1 diabetes,” he added.

Miriam E. Tucker is a freelance journalist based in the Washington, DC area. She is a regular contributor to Medscape Medical News and has also published in The Washington Post, NPR's Shots blog, and Diatribe. Follow her at @MiriamETucker.