HAITI DIABETES AIRLIFT
***
America’s Premier Diabetes Center:
Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes Ships Insulin, Oral Diabetes Medications, Supplies to Haiti
***
Some 300,000 Haitian Diabetics At Risk

(Denver CO, Feb. 11, 2010)---The Children’s Diabetes Foundation  (www.childrensdiabetesfoundation.org) based in Denver and its world renowned outpatient treatment center, The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, have announced that they shipped significant quantities of oral diabetes medications, insulin and supplies to Haiti.

Among the urgently needed supplies were syringes, needles, meters and testing strips.  There are over 300,000 Haitians with diabetes at risk for their lives, some of them children with type 1 diabetes.

The Barbara Davis Center, based in Denver and famous for its pioneering research in the field of type 1 diabetes, is teamed with the Childrens Diabetes Foundation and Dr. Nancy Larco of the Haitian Foundation for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases (Fondation Hatienne de Diabete et de Maladies Cardio-Vasculaires) and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals to deliver the desperately needed supplies to Dr. Larco, whose building miraculously survived the earthquake.

The private flight in a turbo prop plane was made possible though supporters of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and was also delivering additional medical supplies.

Los Angeles philanthropist, Barbara Davis, the founder of the Foundation, was inspired to organize the airlift after viewing the Hope for Haiti Now concert under the auspices of actor George Clooney and then speaking to Dr. Larco about the desperate needs of Hatian diabetics.

Persons with type 1 diabetes (often called juvenile diabetes), cannot survive without insulin for more than a few days. People with type 2 need oral medication to manage the disease.

Type 1 diabetes, the most severe form, most often strikes children.  Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are increasing in epidemic proportions. With more and more cases in children under five years old, the challenge to treat patients effectively is becoming more complicated, says the Barbara Davis Center’s Executive Director Dr. George Eisenbarth.

Intensive insulin therapies and pumps which monitor blood sugar levels have recently helped give young women with type 1 diabetes a new sense of hope about becoming mothers.

The BDC, a global force in diabetes research and clinical care, currently cares for 5,000 children and adults from around the world. The center has hosted goodwill visits with children from several countries including South Africa, Lebanon and Jordan.  The youngsters received treatment, education and consultations with the Center’s pediatric diabetes team.  

Two years ago, pop singer Nick Jonas revealed that he has type 1 diabetes, and in October, 2008, he joined a long list of stars with diabetes, from Halle Berry to B.B. King, who have graced the Carousel of Hope stage and helped the star-studded gala raise, over three decades, a staggering $75-plus million for innovative research and medical care.
###

Press contact:  Jerry Digney, Jerry Brown, Digney & Company, (323) 993 3000; Jerry@digneypr.com; jbrown@digneypr.com