Addison's Disease Self Help Group

The Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group (ADSHG) is the UK & Ireland charity working to improve the lives of people with Addison’s Disease, adrenal insufficiency and all who support them. Addison’s is a rare disease affecting adrenal gland function and can be life threatening. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people, meaning an estimated 300 - 350 new cases are diagnosed each year across the UK, this makes it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes. Life-long treatment with replacement steroid hormones is required. Medication is usually taken several times daily at carefully timed intervals and individuals must also know how to administer an emergency hydrocortisone injection to prevent a potentially fatal adrenal crisis. The ADSHG is here to support the Addison’s community and their healthcare providers to promote better medical understanding of this rare condition, campaign for and support everyone affected by adrenal failure, and fund vital research. Founded in 1984 by Deana Kenward shortly after her own diagnosis, the ADSHG now works in co-operation with some of the UK’s leading adrenal specialists to promote broader medical understanding and effective management of this rare condition. Please visit www.addisonsdisease.org.uk to find out more.