Since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Cindy McLean香蕉视频直播檚 body香蕉视频直播檚 immune system has been attacking itself, destroying insulin-producing beta cells in her pancreas. Those cells are needed to convert blood sugar into energy.
香蕉视频直播淭he kidney disease didn香蕉视频直播檛 come until about 45 years (after the diagnosis),香蕉视频直播� says McLean. 香蕉视频直播淎s much as you try and control your blood sugars, you can香蕉视频直播檛 do it all the time. It just doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work that way.香蕉视频直播�
Growing up with Type 1 diabetes, McLean says, was a challenge. Her classmates were always asking why she was allowed to get juice or candy when no one else could. Sometimes this would lead her to hide when her blood sugar was low, causing her to go into a seizure.
Another challenge was the lack of knowledge on diabetes. While medical professionals and scientists know a lot more about diabetes, there is still a lot to learn, like what causes Type 1 diabetes. Leading theories suggest genetic and environmental factors lead to the autoimmune disease.
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McLean, who was born and raised in Campbell River, started struggling with kidney disease 17 or so years ago and needed a transplant when she started going into renal failure 11 years ago. She didn香蕉视频直播檛 find a donor until last year.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not sure how long Heather [Thomas] has been in Campbell River, but we香蕉视频直播檝e kind of always known each other like acquaintances,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淲e would run into each other. Of course, she香蕉视频直播檚 a dance instructor, so she was teaching at my granddaughter香蕉视频直播檚 school 香蕉视频直播� who lives with me full time 香蕉视频直播� so we would talk there.香蕉视频直播�
When McLean started her business, Thomas would come to visit her. At one point, Thomas, whose son also lives with Type 1 diabetes, was adamant she was a match for McLean and continued looking into it. McLean wasn香蕉视频直播檛 so confident Thomas would be match after searching for a kidney donor for ten years, including putting an ad out in the Campbell River Mirror.
香蕉视频直播淪ure enough, probably six months later she comes into the shop and says 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 your match,香蕉视频直播� McLean says.
The transplant was originally supposed to happen in June 2023, but it didn香蕉视频直播檛 work out for either of the two. Thomas called McLean and said the only time they could do it was on July 19.
香蕉视频直播淚 said, 香蕉视频直播榊ou got to be kidding me, that香蕉视频直播檚 my birthday.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 So she said, 香蕉视频直播淥h my God, do you want to do it on your birthday?香蕉视频直播� recalls McLean.
Her response? 香蕉视频直播淗ell yeah, we香蕉视频直播檙e going to do it on my birthday.香蕉视频直播�
She couldn香蕉视频直播檛 have received a better birthday present.
The transplant was a success. McLean still needs to go to Vancouver every three weeks.
香蕉视频直播淲hat happened while I was there is the Kidney Research Institute approached me and they said I was the perfect candidate to start this new drug they are trying to get approved. After, listening to their story, I was like this is a no-brainer, so I decided I香蕉视频直播檓 going to do this research, I香蕉视频直播檓 actually on the research team.香蕉视频直播�
The drug is AT-1501, also known as Tegoprubart. It was originally developed to treat ALS and Alzheimer香蕉视频直播檚 disease. McLean is one of seven people worldwide trialling the drug for Type 1 Diabetes. The trial is only in phase one of three.
While she is in Vancouver, she has to take intravenous medication for the research.
香蕉视频直播淲e still have phase two and phase three to get through, but as it goes now I香蕉视频直播檓 feeling amazing, I香蕉视频直播檓 doing amazing, everything is just going really good,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淚 started at eight/nine pills a day. I香蕉视频直播檓 now down to three.香蕉视频直播�
Before the transplant, McLean had to adhere to a very strict diet, like fruit and vegetables or anything very high in potassium. Now, she can eat and drink almost anything, except grapefruit, green teas and Earl Grey because they interfere with her medication.
香蕉视频直播淭he first thing I had after my transplant was French fries. I haven香蕉视频直播檛 had French fries or potatoes in ten years香蕉视频直播hey weren香蕉视频直播檛 even the best French fries but they were good.香蕉视频直播�
