The document discusses the speaker's experience living with type 1 diabetes and receiving islet cell transplants. It provides details about being diagnosed with diabetes at age 10, complications experienced over many years of poor control, becoming more compliant with treatment, receiving islet cell transplants in 2005 and 2004 which significantly improved blood sugar control, and the ongoing positive results. It expresses hope that continued research will lead to a cure, and what that would mean for both the speaker and others living with diabetes.
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Jason Turner - NL Islet Presentation
2. 1. Talk about my life with T1 Diabetes
2. Talk about my transplants
3. Pictures!
I would hope you can see an example of
someone real that research dollars has helped
Sense of hope that a cure will one day come.
3. If anyone would like to self-identify as a
Diabetes Caregiver raise an arm
Person with T1 diabetes raise an arm
Person with T2 diabetes raise an arm
Someone who loves someone else with
diabetes stand up!
4. Born October 26, 1971 in Edmonton AB
Diagnosis on March 3, 1983 thats 10,119
days ago.
Symptoms
Adjustment process
Brittle
A word about numbers
6. ED
Neuropathy
Retinopathy
Gastro Issues
Mental Health!
All leading up to
thoughts of the
transplant program
7. or how I became (more) compliant in 5 not so easy
steps
I was motivated
Found the right doctor
I had the right team
I wanted to see my
friends/families kids
grow up
Scared
9. August 2003 Applied to Edmonton Islet
Transplant Program
April 20, 2004, - Started intensive testing
September 2004 Accepted into program
July 12, 2005 ITX#1
November 2005 Weaned off insulin
25. More Results
HbA1C
Ranging from 5.5 to 6.5
since my transplants!
Blood Glucose
Ranges from 4.5 to 6.0 most
pre-meals
May spike up to 12.4 two
hrs after a high carb meal
But within 30 minutes back
to the 6s
Only 5 low blood
sugars in 5 years
Clinic Testing
All post-transplant tests that
have been done prove that
my islets are functioning
just fine
26. Tristans Mom - A cure would mean a safer, healthier life for
him. No more tears at site change, no more sleepless nights, no
more frightening lows. More freedom, more spontaneity. With a
cure Tristan would have the chance at a normal childhood where
he could share his food with his friends, he would be the same as
his brother. The idea of a sleepover at a friends house didnt
send me in a panic attack. A cure would be the greatest
gift that our family has ever received.
What would a cure for diabetes mean for me? I am 39, and have had T1 diabetes for
almost 28 years. I have had the good fortune to have had an islet transplant, and as such maybe approach this
question from a slightly different angle then most people. I have already directly benefited from ground breaking
diabetes research.
First of all I would like to thank you. Because of people like you, the research that
eventually became the Edmonton Protocol was supported, and has helped people just like me, who have
struggled with Diabetes. Can you imagine how you will feel, knowing that you have contributed to The Cure?
A cure for me means not seeing any more kids on a pump.
It would mean no more worries about my sister-in-law who has had diabetes for 21
years, since she was 3 years old. Seeing her throw away her box of diabetes supplies would be awesome.
It would mean peace of mind for people with diabetes who are not fortunate
enough to be born in a developed country, and struggle to even get insulin let alone proper medical care.
A cure would mean the world to me. What would it mean to you?
Tristan - almost 7 yrs old - It
would make me really happy and
we could throw away everything
that I need (diabetes supplies). I
wouldnt have any lows. It would
make me happy not to have
diabetes anymore because everybody
that I know with diabetes would be
cured and we would be able to
celebrate.
28. We b : w w w. j a s o n t u r n e r. c a / b l o g
Tw i t t e r : @ j a s o n _ t u r n e r
E m a i l : j a s o n @ j a s o n t u r n e r. c a
Yo u Tu b e : y o u t u b e . c o m / i s l e t 7 9
Editor's Notes
#25: Results
Before let me remind you of before
A1C at the worst was 12.7 or about 19.5 on the meter
After
A1C of 5.5, under the recommended guidelines of 6.0