About the 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 $568 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. More about JDRF: www.jdrf.org
Please Donate to the Donnelly Family Foundation
Proceeds go to Juvenile Diabetes research along with others
NJ Charitable Registration #CH3669900
Living With Type 1 Diabetes
“I was asked to do this write up about my experience with Type 1 Diabetes and how it has affected my life. The real question is how this illness has not affected me.” ~ Ryan Jacobs
This horrible disease has put me in the most pain of my life, pulled me into the deepest of depressions, had me prescribed to what my doctor called, “a cocktail of pharmaceuticals”, and worst of all made me feel sorry for myself. I felt like my life was in a total tailspin and there was nothing I could have done to prevent acquiring this chronic illness.
Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 25 was like being taken out in the ninth inning when you’re pitching a shutout. I had pitched a great game and wanted to come off the mound as the victor…. Well, guess what? There is no winning when your opponent is Type 1.
There are a million foundations out there for all kinds of ailments but I honestly believe that Type 1 can be cured in my lifetime and it’s thanks to people like YOU who make a difference.
Living with Type 1 is like having another job, but instead of working for a paycheck, you are trying to work for more time. It can be your feet, your legs, your eyes, your kidneys – the list goes on and on – and more and more people are being diagnosed every day. Being someone that was diagnosed with Type 1 at an older age than most makes me feel absolutely horrible for those who are diagnosed as children or young adults. I was greatly affected with nerve damage in my legs because I had walked around for what we think to be two years without being diagnosed. It wasn’t until the disease shrunk me down to 135 lbs that it became a situation that we all knew something was wrong. The pain that I went through for 8 months after my blood sugar levels had been returned to normal was extraordinary.
Everyday, I wake up with what seems to be less feeling in my legs. It’s scary and I would want nothing more than to make this feeling disappear for children who are diagnosed and confused with what their body is doing to them. Of course there is no good time to be diagnosed with this disease and although I was considered a late diagnosis I was only 25!! This disease is horrible for a day let alone 50-70 years!
Please help fund the research and donate to help find a cure. I can feel it, we are almost there. Well, I got to get going because I have to go prick my finger and stab myself with a needle for the 5th time today…
~ Ryan Jacobs
