Philanthropy

WHAT IS JUVENILE DIABETES?

Juvenile diabetes is a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. In juvenile diabetes, a persons pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. Juvenile diabetes usually strikes in childhood but lasts a lifetime. People with juvenile diabetes must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continuous infusion of insulin through a pump just to survive.

WHAT IS DIABETES?  ​

   Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. There are two major types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disorder of the body's immune systemthat is, its system for protecting itself from viruses, bacteria or any "foreign" substances.

    Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys certain cells in the pancreas, an organ about the size of a hand that is located behind the lower part of the stomach. These cells  called beta cells  are contained, along with other types of cells, within small islands of endocrine cells called the pancreatic islets. Beta cells normally produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body move the glucose contained in food into cells throughout the body, which use it for energy. But when the beta cells are destroyed, no insulin can be produced, and the glucose stays in the blood instead, where it can cause serious damage to all the organ systems of the body.

    For this reason, people with type 1 diabetes must take insulin in order to stay alive. This means undergoing multiple injections daily, or having insulin delivered through an insulin pump, and testing their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day. People with diabetes must also carefully balance their food intake and their exercise to regulate their blood sugar levels, in an attempt to avoid hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) reactions, which can be life threatening.
    The warning signs of type 1 diabetes include extreme thirst; frequent urination; drowsiness or lethargy; sugar in urine; sudden vision changes; increased appetite; sudden weight loss; fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath; heavy, labored breathing; stupor; and unconsciousness.

    Generally, type 1 diabetes is diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults. Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe that autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are involved.

WHO IS JDRF?  ​

   JDRF, the leading charitable funder and advocate of juvenile (type 1) diabetes research worldwide, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $800 million in direct funding to diabetes research. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

DELTA EPSILON PSI AND JDRF ​

    Our fraternity is not only committed to continuing juvenile diabetes awareness but also to providing to the juvenile diabetes research foundation. In the past year, our fraternity as a whole donated more than $50,000 to the foundation. Our chapters and colonies host/attend various events both during and outside our philanthropy weeks. Below you will see a glimpse of our efforts to benefit JDRF and the "Sure for a Cure."



• Sugar-Free Bowl - annual charity flag football tournament

• Sugar Free Wrist Bands - wrist bands to promote awareness and raise funds for the JDRF

• Diabetes Awareness Week - Events included sugar-free food tasting, blood-sugar testing a sugar-free bake sale, Annual Charity Party, a walk.

• You Got Served  annual charity tennis tournament

• Who's Got Game - charity 3 on 3 basketball tournament

• Sugar Spike Off - charity volleyball tournament. Dodging Diabetes - charity dodgeball tournament. JDRF Walk for a Cure - National JDRF Walk.


HOW CAN YOU HELP?

    One of the best ways for those interested outside of Delta Epsilon Psi to assist, is through signing up and attending the various events that we host. Its this type of support that ensures our events will be as successful as possible, allowing us to not only raise donations but raise awareness. Please look for these events in your local community and/or campuses. These philanthropic events occur at least once a semester and provide ample opportunity to help make a difference in finding a cure. For more information on how you can help JDRF and how you can make donations please visit www.JDRF.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEED FOR DONORS
On any given day, more than 6,000 men, women and children are searching the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry for a life-saving donor like you. These patients have leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening diseases that can be treated by a bone marrow or cord blood transplant. For many of these patients, a transplant may be the best and only hope of a cure. We work to provide hope and deliver a cure to all patients in need. With your support, more patients can access the treatment they so desperately need.

FIND A MATCH
The basics For a successful transplant, the tissue type of a bone marrow donor or a cord blood unit needs to match the patients as closely as possible. Special testing determines whether a patient and bone marrow donor or cord blood unit are a good match. The closer the match, the better for the patient.

RACE AND ETHINICITY MATTERS
Race and ethnicity matter in tissue matches because tissue types are inherited, patients are more likely to match someone from their own race or ethnicity. Adding more donors and cord blood units from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to the NMDP Registry increases the likelihood that all patients will find the match they need. Your heritage can make all the difference. If you are from one of the following communities, you are urgently needed as a bone marrow donor or cord blood donor:
Black and African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
Hispanic and Latino
Multiple race

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Join the bone marrow donor Registry and give hope to patients everywhere. Every day thousands of patients who need a life-saving transplant search for a donor. You could be the one to save a life. Join the Donor Registry.

LIFE. IT'S IN YOU
Join the bone marrow donor Registry and give hope to patients everywhere. When you become a bone marrow donor, you join the global movement of more than 10 million donors who stand ready to give someone a future. Even with millions on the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry, there are many patients waiting and hoping, unable to find a matching donor. You could be the one a patient needs. Please visit www.bethematch.org.