Since she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Cindy McLeanB次元官网网址檚 bodyB次元官网网址檚 immune system has been attacking itself, destroying insulin-producing beta cells in her pancreas. Those cells are needed to convert blood sugar into energy.
B次元官网网址淭he kidney disease didnB次元官网网址檛 come until about 45 years (after the diagnosis),B次元官网网址� says McLean. B次元官网网址淎s much as you try and control your blood sugars, you canB次元官网网址檛 do it all the time. It just doesnB次元官网网址檛 work that way.B次元官网网址�
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 didnB次元官网网址檛 find a donor until last year.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not sure how long Heather [Thomas] has been in Campbell River, but weB次元官网网址檝e kind of always known each other like acquaintances,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲e would run into each other. Of course, sheB次元官网网址檚 a dance instructor, so she was teaching at my granddaughterB次元官网网址檚 school B次元官网网址� who lives with me full time B次元官网网址� so we would talk there.B次元官网网址�
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 wasnB次元官网网址檛 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.
B次元官网网址淪ure enough, probably six months later she comes into the shop and says B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 your match,B次元官网网址� McLean says.
The transplant was originally supposed to happen in June 2023, but it didnB次元官网网址檛 work out for either of the two. Thomas called McLean and said the only time they could do it was on July 19.
B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址榊ou got to be kidding me, thatB次元官网网址檚 my birthday.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� So she said, B次元官网网址淥h my God, do you want to do it on your birthday?B次元官网网址� recalls McLean.
Her response? B次元官网网址淗ell yeah, weB次元官网网址檙e going to do it on my birthday.B次元官网网址�
She couldnB次元官网网址檛 have received a better birthday present.
The transplant was a success. McLean still needs to go to Vancouver every three weeks.
B次元官网网址淲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 IB次元官网网址檓 going to do this research, IB次元官网网址檓 actually on the research team.B次元官网网址�
The drug is AT-1501, also known as Tegoprubart. It was originally developed to treat ALS and AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淲e still have phase two and phase three to get through, but as it goes now IB次元官网网址檓 feeling amazing, IB次元官网网址檓 doing amazing, everything is just going really good,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 started at eight/nine pills a day. IB次元官网网址檓 now down to three.B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淭he first thing I had after my transplant was French fries. I havenB次元官网网址檛 had French fries or potatoes in ten yearsB次元官网网址hey werenB次元官网网址檛 even the best French fries but they were good.B次元官网网址�
