A copy of my presentation in St Johns NL for World Diabetes Day

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 – that’s 10,119
days ago.
• Symptoms
• Adjustment process
• ‘Brittle’
• A word about numbers

5. Complications
Fairly non-
compliant
Many
years of
little to no
testing
Young and
invincible

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

8. • Typical Glucose Values
Pre Transplant

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

11. I get the call, my wife gets the camera.

12. Not plastic surgery!

13. there are many of us who are living proof

14. One arm was for in, and the other was for out

16. On the way….

17. The radiology suite

18. The fluoroscope image
My liver, portal vein and catheter can all be seen clearly

19. Catheter
Portal Vein
My Spine!!
My Liver

20. 343,620 islets are in the bag

21. The islets are starting their descent into my liver,
even now I can manage a smile

22. The hole is plugged

23. After
The islets are working immediately after transplantation!!

24. The Results
Sugars Before TX
HgbA1C = 12.7 (17.6 mmol/L)
Sugars After TX
HgbA1C = 5.5 (6.2 mmol/L)

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 6’s
• 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. Tristan’s 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 friend’s house didn’t
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
wouldn’t 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