Sometimes things are done that just leave me scratching my head. Today is such a day. The best part is that you can do something about it, and to be honest–this just makes no sense to me whatsoever.
The FDA is planning a series of ‘patient meetings’ over the next five years to better understand specific diseases. It astounds me, and is a glaring mis-step, that diabetes is not on that list. That’s correct. Diabetes will not be included. My guess is that diabetes is not on the list (and my guess only) as I look at the list of the other diseases included is that someone at the FDA believes that they have all the necessary information needed to make decisions moving forward.
This is a mistake.
In the Diatribe sponsored petition, they state;
“We need to tell our story to the FDA: about the need for accurate strips, more physiologic insulin, a broader range of drugs, and the Artificial Pancreas.”
These issues should be listed as very important to all of us and if you add Ed Damiano’s Bionic Pancreas (which is somewhat different from the AP utilizing both insulin AND glucagon) and those many organizations looking at biological cure possibilities that may, and will absolutely, be up against hurdles in the FDA process; everyone who has a loved one with diabetes, or has diabetes, should sign this petition.
We need to be given the opportunity for not only us as the general public; but experts like Ed Damiano, Dr. Camillo Ricordi, Dr. Aaron Kowalski, Dr. Bernhard Hering, and so many more to join together to be heard and stress the importance of both treatment options and cure related focus that needs to be addressed by the FDA in a manner that is both expeditious and comprehensive in scope.
The examples given in the Diatribe (owned and operated by DOC’s own and wonderful, Kelly Close) petition are only but a few issues in the ever-changing diabetes landscape that will be facing the FDA over the next five years, we cannot; and should not; allow our collective voices to go unheard.
If diabetes has any importance to you whatsoever (and it is my hope that just reading that sentence annoyed you because we all know that it is hugely important to all of us) in better management tools, medications, insulins, and cure related research—I urge you to sign this petition.
This is crucial for all of us to join together. Type 1; type 2; LADA, Gestational and any other form of diabetes you know of; our voices MUST BE HEARD.
Under the comment section of the petition, I wrote:
With so many aspects of diabetes that will be before the FDA in the near future; it is too crucial to be detached from those who are in the know about matters of treatment and potential cures. It makes no sense to omit those active in this disease state to assist the FDA. The diabetes community should be included in the upcoming FDA ‘patient meetings’.
If we can not convince the FDA how crucial it is that our voices be heard; the silence will be deafening. Period.
I am a diabetes dad.