Leading charity highlights work of inspiring female researchers

International Day of Women and Girls in 2017

As the largest charitable funder dedicated to diabetes research in the UK, leading charity Diabetes UK is putting the spotlight on the organisation’s inspirational female researchers ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science* on 11 February.

Diabetes UK is dedicated to supporting the leaders of diabetes research. Currently 54 women scientists funded by the charity are working to change the lives of people with diabetes. Ground-breaking research funded by the charity for longer than 80 years has been instrumental in improving diabetes care and moving us closer to a cure.

Diabetes is a huge and growing problem in the UK which costs the NHS £10 billion every year. If not managed properly, it can lead to causes serious consequences for people living with the condition which can include sight loss, limb amputation and kidney failure.

In the UK, there are more than 4.5 million people who have diabetes of which more than 1 million people have Type 2 diabetes but don’t know they have it because they haven’t been diagnosed. Almost 12 million people are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes UK’s Research Communications Manager Dr Emily Burns said:
“All of our fantastic researchers play a vital role in helping us to know diabetes, and fight diabetes. This International Day of Women and Girls in Science we recognise the achievements of our amazing female researchers, who have had a huge impact on the treatment of diabetes. They will continue to be leaders in the world of diabetes research and care. There are of course many more people doing incredible work and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they do.”

For more information about diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk