News
A Cure for Type One Diabetes
On Tuesday, September 27, 2011 the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation hosted a human islet transplantation symposium where eight human islet recipients shared their stories about living with and without type one diabetes. The event was held at Best Buy headquarters in Richfield, MN and over 350 people turned out for the event to learn first hand, what it was like to live "insulin free".
Take some time to hear their stories about living with type one diabetes, hypoglycemia unawareness, how they learned about human islet transplantation, the surgery, taking immunosuppressant drugs and now living life without type one diabetes.
All of the recipients on the panel had lived with type one diabetes for more than 15 years and had lived daily with the disease and it's complications. All of the patients had experienced hypoglycemia unawareness (inability to recognize low blood sugar) and shared their stories of the disease's complications with the audience.
This is not a new treatment - it's been around for more than 10 years and we are trying to make it an affordable, accessible reality for all type one diabetics.
The University of Minnesota Schulze Diabetes Institute (www.diabetes.umn.edu) defines the treatment as follows: "Allo-islet transplantation, which all of these patients had, involves inserting human islets from a human donor pancreas into the liver. The cells lodge in the liver's small blood vessels and, in most cases, begin producing insulin shortly after infusion. As is the case for organ transplants, immunosuppressive drugs must be taken to prevent the body from rejecting the cells. Unlike a pancreas transplant, however, islet transplantation does not require major surgery."
Please educate yourself on this treatment, the use of immunosuppressive drugs and what you will need to do to be eligible. Currently, the clinical trial where most of these patients received the transplant is closed. However, with your help, we can make it available soon. Contact your diabetes educator, endocrinologist, JDRF and American Diabetes Association representative and inquire about this treatment. With your help, the awareness and validity of allo-islet transplantation can be a reality for everyone with type one diabetes.
What Can I Do? How Can I Help?
In October, we will post the individual stories of each panelist and you will have the opportunity to learn how a human islet transplantation (allo-islet transplantation) can cure type one diabetes. Share these stories with anyone you know who has type one diabetes, has a relative with type one diabetes or was recently diagnosed with type one diabetes.
For More Information Please Visit the Following web sites.
www.diabetes.umn.edu - University of Minnesota Schulze Diabetes Institute where the research has been instrumental and leading in this area.
www.diabeteswellness.net
"I Need Help" - We Heard You!
Living with type one diabetes is not easy. Many people comment to type one patients by saying, "you don't look sick", but they are very, very sick. It's difficult to convey to someone unfamiliar with the disease, just how serious this disease is and how it slowly destroys the body.
Please go to these websites, blogs and resources, in addition to your diabetes educator and endocrinologists, and get the help that is available to you.
www.diabeteswellness.net - The Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF) is a non-profit organization structured to bring people with diabetes closer through the sharing of knowledge and experience, as well as providing important health advice. Whether you have recently been diagnosed, are having trouble controlling your blood glucose levels or simply want to be in contact with others living with diabetes, DRWF is here to help you.
www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes - American Diabetes Association website that not only explains living with type one as an adult, but offers advice, resources, recommendations and help.
www.jdrf.org - JDRF. Yes. It's not just for kids anymore. If you are an adult, they can help you. At the website, click on "Life with Diabetes". They have links for adults, complications, resources, blogs, Juvenation (blog talking about living with the disease), Adult Tool Kit, etc.