Alleviating the global burden of type 1 diabetes: driving change with data

Kate Gerrard

Content Manager, JDRF UK

Type 1 diabetes is one of the fastest-growing chronic health conditions worldwide, impacting nearly 9 million people.

Our research programme at JDRF is on a global scale, bringing together the best minds from across the world to drive research into treatments and cures. Now, the Type 1 Diabetes Global Index gives us first-of-its-kind global data to help identify the specific interventions needed to tackle the type 1 crisis.

Global picture of type 1

What we haven’t had — until now — is a global picture of the type 1 diabetes crisis. The Type 1 Diabetes Global Index, led by JDRF in partnership with other global type 1 organisations, uses data modelling to show the prevalence and impact of type 1 in every country. It gives us the most accurate picture of the global state of the crisis.

It highlights the ‘missing people’ — the number of people who would still be alive if they had not died early due to complications from type 1 and ‘healthy years lost’ — time lost to ill health, disability or early death from living with type 1 diabetes.

Globally, the index indicates that there are 3.86 million ‘missing people.’ The average number of ‘healthy years lost’ to type 1 diabetes per person, worldwide, is 32 years (if diagnosed at age 10).

In the UK, the index shows us that the
average number of healthy years lost
to treatment and care is 3.3 years.

Leveraging data for action

The data gives us leverage to call for specific interventions at a country level, including timely diagnosis, access to affordable insulin, glucose testing and the prospect of cellular cures.

Take Rwanda, for example, where an estimated 3,651 people live with type 1 and lose an average of 50 healthy years. JDRF has partnered with an international charity, Life for A Child, which will use the data from the Index to map and understand the needs of people with type 1 in Rwanda and support the clinical provision of insulin and blood glucose testing. These interventions can help us restore some of those 50 years lost — and save lives.

What could this mean for the UK?

In the UK, the index shows us that the average number of healthy years lost to treatment and care is 3.3 years. It also shows us that if everyone had access to technology that automates insulin delivery and glucose monitoring, we could give people back nearly three years of their life, drastically minimising the burden of type 1.

For the first time, we have statistical insight into what can make the most impact across the world.