D & D who's got it?

[Chris]

Chris,

I had a minimed 508, it was OK. The 722 is much better. That is great that you got a 2fer. I am trying to get that myself. I have to do some homework on a center that will do this and be covered by my insurance. I have also used the CGM. I am not sure the CGM is there yet. Close but not quite. How are you handling the anti-rejection drugs? Any serious problems? Sorry to hear about your vision problems. I know that I cannot look at anything white without seeing a mist in front off me.

Mark

My friend was on the 508 and she switched to the 722 and likes it better also. I prefer getting two organs than having two seperate operations from two seperate people. Get it over and done with so I can get on with my life. The anti-rejection meds I am on haven't been a real problem compared to others on the same regimene. I just have hand tremors, but are barely noticable now, but up my dose on the other med, then I am in the bathroom for awhile. Stuff that has happened that I do have an answer for is due to having diabetes for so long, being on dialysis, transplant medications, and a lack of dairy and vitamin rich food intake. Vision problems, just a part o life to me, I adapt as much as I can and technology allows me too.

[talon999]

Chris,

Sorry for asking so many questions, (but....) how often do you have to adjust your meds? How do you know you need to adjust? Do you make the decision or does the doctor? (I like to be independant. Not easy on dialysis)

Mark

[Chris]

No problem. The anti rejection med dose is based on monthly labs done or if needed, more lab work is done. There are more labs taken right after transplant and doctors adjust meds based on that. They just adjusted one of my doses due to the readings, so I now take a lower dose/1 less pill.

[talon999]

Chris,

Thanks for the explanation on the anti-rejection drugs. That makes sense to me now.
Less meds are always better !

Mark

[stauffenberg]

Talon: Dr. Faustman has found that two things are necessary in principle to cure type 1 diabetes: first, the autoimmune attack in the patient has to be halted, and second, some stimulus to the regrowth of beta cells has to be given, since after many years of the autoimmune attack, the regrowth becomes too feeble to allow patients to escape the need for injected insulin, to become able to eat what they want, and to keep blood sugar completely normal.  One of the substances being tested now to stimulate regrowth of beta cells is INGAP polypeptide, which seems to work well in animals.  Faustman's goal is to find some new class of less toxic immunosuppressive drugs to stop the autoimmune attack, since most diabetics are not already taking immunosupressives for other reasons, and the argument could be made that the toxic effects of the present immunosuppressives are worse than those of diabetes itself.

A more promising avenue to cure diabetes is now being pursued in New Zealand by Dr. Bob Elliot with the Living Cell Technologies Company.  They are implanting into diabetics pig panceatic islet cells encased in a differentially permeable membrane which lets in blood and other nutrients and lets out insulin, but blocks the entrance of the body's immune cells, so the pig islets are safe from attack without the need for immunosuppression.  Human trials have already been conducted in Russia and a few patients have been able to give up injected insulin entirely, but that result was achieved only with the minimum dose of islets used to establish the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.  Dr. Valdez in Mexico about 5 years ago already achieved similar results in humans, but the medical community rejected his work because they found it unethical, since it was conducted on children without prior testing in monkeys, and his procedures were not rigorously documented.

[talon999]

stauffenberg,

That is good news. I am uncomfortable with testing this stuff on children. It may be that they were dieing and this was a last resort but you are right, the medical community would crucify anyone over that. I am encouraged with the talk about stem cells also. I think that the researchers are on the brink of some major advances here. Time will tell. Just hope to be here to enjoy some of it.

Mark