Let’s talk about the T1D Burden Study in South Africa

Have you heard about the T1D Burden Study in South Africa, and why it’s so important? Let’s talk about it…

T1D in South Africa

Last week we very excitedly announced that the national Type 1 diabetes burden study launched – but do you know what it’s all about, and why it matters? You can find out all the official details here, but I’d like to share a little about why I’m so excited about it.

Before we get started, let’s talk about the word ‘burden’. The study isn’t saying that Type 1 diabetes is a burden (although, let’s be honest, sometimes it is!) A burden study is a specific kind of study that “assesses the impact of a health problem on a population, encompassing mortality, morbidity, disability, and financial costs.” Which basically means that this is a proper research study.

What is the T1D Burden Study?

The T1D Burden Study is an attempt to find out how many people are living with T1D (Type 1 Diabetes) in South Africa. This is so important because at the moment, we have no idea. Where are the people with Type 1 diabetes in SA? Are they getting the care they need? Nobody knows.

Officially, “The South Africa Type 1 Diabetes Burden Study, supported by the Life for a Child Program of Diabetes Australia, seeks to address a long-standing data gap by generating national estimates of how many people are living with T1D in South Africa, and where and how they are accessing care.”

We’ve been working on the idea for this project for (I kid you not) 5 years, since July 2020, so I am really excited that it’s finally a reality!

Pairing research with lived experience

The other thing that’s really exciting about this study is that it’s not just doctors and researchers gathering the data. People with lived experience – you and me – are invited to take part as well.

We can actively help to build
a map of Type 1 diabetes in South Africa.

How to take part in the T1D Burden Study

Fill in this questionnaire. It will take about 20 minutes, but it’s pretty straightforward – we edited it a few times to make it as clear as possible.

Any questions? Email diabetes@up.ac.za

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