- 08/04/2014
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Categories: Latest News, Press Releases
Local Swansea AM Mike Hedges has today welcomed the action being taken by the Welsh Government in supporting research and development into finding a cure for patients with Type 1 Diabetes.
In a recent question asked by the Swansea East AM to Health Minister Mark Drakeford, it was revealed that the Welsh Government will be spending over £43 million in 2014-15 through the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR) on a broad range of activities to support clinical trials and research for patient and public benefit across all disease areas.
This includes funding for a Diabetes Research Network Wales and a Clinical Research Centre that will bring together researchers, clinicians and patients to undertake and participate in a wide-ranging portfolio of diabetes studies, including studies of Type 1 Diabetes.
Commenting on the response, Labour AM Mike Hedges said:
“It’s estimated that around 1 in 250 people in Wales are currently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, with this figure rising year on year, particularly in young children. With a healthy diet, regular exercise and good control of insulin levels, health complications can be avoided but this doesn’t stop patients from having to inject insulin for the rest of their lives.
“Although we’ve recently seen some encouraging developments made by Cardiff University’s School of Medicine in researching the disease, the quest is still on to finding a cure for Type 1.
“Government funding for medical and clinical research can play a pivotal role in helping us find cures and treatments for diseases like diabetes and cancer. That’s why I’m pleased to welcome this funding being made available by the Welsh Government to support further research and studies, which will hopefully lead us onto conquering this disease one and for all.”
