Since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Cindy McLean害羞草研究所檚 body害羞草研究所檚 immune system has been attacking itself, destroying insulin-producing beta cells in her pancreas. Those cells are needed to convert blood sugar into energy.
害羞草研究所淭he kidney disease didn害羞草研究所檛 come until about 45 years (after the diagnosis),害羞草研究所� says McLean. 害羞草研究所淎s much as you try and control your blood sugars, you can害羞草研究所檛 do it all the time. It just doesn害羞草研究所檛 work that way.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檛 find a donor until last year.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure how long Heather [Thomas] has been in Campbell River, but we害羞草研究所檝e kind of always known each other like acquaintances,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淲e would run into each other. Of course, she害羞草研究所檚 a dance instructor, so she was teaching at my granddaughter害羞草研究所檚 school 害羞草研究所� who lives with me full time 害羞草研究所� so we would talk there.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所檛 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.
害羞草研究所淪ure enough, probably six months later she comes into the shop and says 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 your match,害羞草研究所� McLean says.
The transplant was originally supposed to happen in June 2023, but it didn害羞草研究所檛 work out for either of the two. Thomas called McLean and said the only time they could do it was on July 19.
害羞草研究所淚 said, 害羞草研究所榊ou got to be kidding me, that害羞草研究所檚 my birthday.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 So she said, 害羞草研究所淥h my God, do you want to do it on your birthday?害羞草研究所� recalls McLean.
Her response? 害羞草研究所淗ell yeah, we害羞草研究所檙e going to do it on my birthday.害羞草研究所�
She couldn害羞草研究所檛 have received a better birthday present.
The transplant was a success. McLean still needs to go to Vancouver every three weeks.
害羞草研究所淲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害羞草研究所檓 going to do this research, I害羞草研究所檓 actually on the research team.害羞草研究所�
The drug is AT-1501, also known as Tegoprubart. It was originally developed to treat ALS and Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淲e still have phase two and phase three to get through, but as it goes now I害羞草研究所檓 feeling amazing, I害羞草研究所檓 doing amazing, everything is just going really good,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚 started at eight/nine pills a day. I害羞草研究所檓 now down to three.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淭he first thing I had after my transplant was French fries. I haven害羞草研究所檛 had French fries or potatoes in ten years害羞草研究所hey weren害羞草研究所檛 even the best French fries but they were good.害羞草研究所�
