JDRF Announces New Outreach Kit to Support Adults Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes

-- In collaboration with its partners—Bayer Healthcare, Medtronic, and Novo Nordisk—JDRF's Adult Type 1 Pak is a sling-style bag with resources for newly-diagnosed adults --

NEW YORK, April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- JDRF announced today that it has created a new resource for adults newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The Adult Type 1 Pak is a sling-style bag that will include important resources and information to educate, support, and inspire adults newly diagnosed with T1D, age 16 and above. In collaboration with JDRF's generous sponsors—Bayer Healthcare, Medtronic, and Novo Nordisk—the kit is now available through local JDRF chapters, and is free of charge.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130415/DC94365 )

The Adult Type 1 Pak was created as a part of an effort to ensure that all individuals newly diagnosed with T1D receive the information and support necessary to adjust to life with the disease. JDRF has found the Bag of Hope to be extremely beneficial to families of newly-diagnosed children with T1D, and is hopeful that the Adult Type 1 Pak will be just as valuable to newly-diagnosed adults. Each year in the United States alone, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults are diagnosed with T1D, and JDRF continues to work to expand its efforts to better support people of all ages, and at all stages of life with the disease.

"JDRF is wholeheartedly committed to all people with type 1 diabetes, and adults make up 85 percent of that population," said Jeffrey Brewer, president and CEO of JDRF. "Adults who are newly diagnosed face challenges that are very different from children who are newly diagnosed, and we are proud to be able to offer this resource to help them take charge of their lives in the midst of such a huge transition. Most importantly, we want these adults to know that they have a network of support through JDRF and that amazing progress is being made in type 1 diabetes research. We're grateful to Bayer Healthcare, Medtronic, and Novo Nordisk for their support of the Adult Type 1 Pak."

Newly-diagnosed adults with T1D can contact their local JDRF chapters for the Adult Type 1 Pak, and for more information on ways to get involved with JDRF and the T1D community.

About JDRF

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF's goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people's lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure T1D.

As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $530 million in scientific research in 17 countries. In 2012 alone, JDRF provided more than $110 million to T1D research. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. In 2012 Forbes magazine named JDRF one of its five All-Star charities, citing the organization's efficiency and effectiveness.

For more information, please visit jdrf.org.

SOURCE JDRF