Children’s Congress will take place on June 20-22, 2011 in Washington, D.C.

This year we have the opportunity to watch some of the events live.

•Opening Dinner (6/20 at 5:30 pm EDT): You have the opportunity to watch the delegates kick off the 2011 Children’s Congress. Not only will the delegates introduce themselves and the state they come from, but we’ll also have JDRF CEO and President, Jeffery Brewer address the crowd! Be sure to support the delegates from your state and give a shout-out on Twitter and add the hashtag, ‘#JDRFCC11′!

•Role Model in Diabetes Town Hall (6/21 at 10:30 am EDT): We have some great celebrities lined-up to share their story of living with type 1 diabetes and how they have overcome their challenges to achieve so much. Although we find CC to be inspirational all around, this particular event is one of the most inspirational for all of us. Visit the JDRF Advocacy blog for announcements on who our ‘Role Models in Diabetes’ are!!

http://www.cc.jdrf.org/LIVE

14 year old Max Voss and his sister, 11 Year old Sophie Voss of Menomonie will represent Wisconsin at the congress June 20-22 in Washington, D.C.

They are among 150 children throughout the United States selected to represent their states on Capitol Hill to remind Congress and the Administration of the critical need to find better treatments and a cure for a disease they live with every day-type 1 diabetes.

Dunn County News article: Menomonie siblings are delegates to Children’s Congress

Max’s video

Sophie’s video

Thursday, June 16
Fluno Center, 601 University Avenue, Madison

6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Reception and Vendor Displays

6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Board Election, Acknowledgment of Retiring Board Members, State of the Foundation and Special Recognition Awards

7:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Jay Hewitt

This event is a free and open for all JDRF supporters; however, space is limited and registration is required.

RSVP to the JDRF office by Wednesday, June 9
608-833-2873 or westernwi@jdrf.org

For more information: 2011 JDRF Western Wisconsin Annual Meeting Invitation

Every day, Rachael McIlquham clips the pump about the size of a telephone pager on her clothing.

The pump has a vial of insulin in it. Tubes come out of the vial and are connected to a catheter on the 18 1/2 year-old.

The pump helps the blood sugar level remain constant in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire freshman.

But as it is for most diabetic supplies, it’s not cheap. The $7,000 cost was covered by insurance, according to Rachael’s mother, Sharon McIlquham.

“My daughter has Type 1 diabetes. She’s had it since Jan. 11, 2004,” said Sharon McIlquham, an Eau Claire attorney who is the chairwoman of the Walk to Cure Diabetes that’s held each September in Carson Park.

Read the entire article Eau Claire woman adapts to life as a Type 1 diabetic

Steps toward a fully-automated system continue to advance, adding to the prospect that artificial pancreas devices could eventually become available for people with type 1 diabetes. Mounting evidence of research funded by JDRF and others suggests an artificial pancreas, which would automatically control high and low blood sugar around the clock, has the potential to transform the care of people with type 1 diabetes, enabling them to live longer and healthier lives.

Artificial pancreas technologies have shown success in improving glucose control when tested in controlled in-patient or hospital settings. Now they have to be put to the test in real-life situations. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a workshop in November to discuss next steps in the testing of these devices. There was general consensus among researchers, clinicians, and patients at the workshop that it is time to start testing these systems outside of the hospital.

But the FDA needs to provide clear and reasonable guidance when reviewing and approving artificial pancreas trials before they can proceed. Having guidance from FDA will accelerate the ability of researchers and companies to develop this much-needed technology for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, without clear and reasonable guidance to allow outpatient studies on the device from the FDA, the development of this transformative technology could be delayed.

Come join JDRF’s Aaron Kowalski for the latest developments on the artificial pancreas and next steps on how we can move testing safely and effectively into outpatient settings. Find out what JDRF is doing, and what you can do to help.

So, please tune-in to www.jdrf.org/livewebcasts on March 8 at 1pm EST to join our discussion. If you are unable to watch live, the webcast will be recorded and archived in the same location on our site.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please let us know. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or just email us at advocacy@jdrf.org.

Thanks!

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has launched the new website! Go to http://www.jdrf.org/ to see the new look!