If you are Type 1 Diabetic I urge you to watch this documentary...

...and watch it quick! You only have 4 days before it becomes unavailable online.

http://tvnz.co.nz/xeno-a-cure-for-diabetes/video-4261364

This show screened on New Zealand TV last Sunday, and you can watch it by the magic of the interwebs at the link above.

It's all about the work of Professor Bob Elliot, and the research his company LCT Global is doing into Xeno-transplantation of (pig) islet-cells into humans.

Short summary for you who are not planning to watch the video:

• The show follows one clinical trial patient as she goes through the work up and procedure.
• Apart from the sensationalist made-for-TV title of the documentary, this is not actually being promoted as a cure, rather, it's hoped that the encapsulated islet cells will work to remove the roller-coaster style fluctuations, and reduce hypo-unawareness. So far, so good in the trials anyway!
• I personally thought that some parts of the "living with diabetes" spiel had been ramped up a bit, but then, the candidate has many similarities with my own story. I will leave you to make up your own mind.
• LCT Global has just started more clinical trials in Argentina, to determine the best dosage. Seems like they have got the big OK on the safety issue.
• You can sign up for their email newsletter, which gives updates on where this technology is at, and how soon before it gets to "market".
• That's another thing to consider... if this treatment does become available, how expensive will it be???
• I want! Gimme gimme gimme!

In other, more local news, it's the end of semester one. I have been working like a crazy thing. I had a 9-day migraine with aura (not much pain though). I have recently developed moderately bad shin splints pain in my left shin (what the hell! There is nothing in a SHIN to go wrong, is there?? Sigh), and the RSI/OOS/Overuse Syndrome in my right wrist has reared it's ugly head, only this time in my left wrist. Typing this is hurting. Wah.

Work is busy, with grading, teaching extra classes, and preparing to move office in the next 3 weeks. We are getting a whole bright new shiny art facility built - can't wait to move. New digs have: duh-duh-daaaaa! Air con!!! Yay! :)

My freelance work is going nuts. I'm getting website projects coming out of my ears. This week alone I've encountered 5+ websites that need buildin' and have quoted on two of them. When I will actually find time to make them is still a question I haven't solved.

In sad news, my father-in-law has been admitted to hospital today with bad anaemia. He is 82 (I think) and has taken a hammering with health problems in the years I've known him. He's such a sweetie and he really doesn't deserve this. Please send your good thought and prayers for him to recover.

So.... go and watch that documentary. Now! (Sorry to shout, but it's like, real important eh.) And share it with your mates. Cool.

In the local newspaper this morning...

District's diabetes service slammed

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/4418040/Districts-diabetes-service-slammed

Taranaki's district health board has been slammed for inadequate services for people with diabetes.


**Have you experienced problems with a lack of services for people with diabetes in Taranaki? Post your comments below.
 
Paul Drury, medical director of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes, was scathing about the level of service provided.


"We are extremely concerned and very disappointed that Taranaki as a district health board hasn't taken diabetes seriously over many years," Dr Drury said.


"Taranaki has possibly the most deficient service in the country."
The TDHB, in a written statement to the Taranaki Daily News through its media adviser Sue Carrington, defended its service for diabetics and expressed disappointment at the criticism


In the statement, primary healthcare portfolio manager Vicki Kershaw said the organisation was pleased with the latest health target results released by the Ministry of Health on diabetes and cardiovascular services, which showed it had reached 87 per cent of the eligible population


"Taranaki tops the country in this target," she said. "The DHB continues to work with and support the PHOs to ensure there are services in place in primary care to diagnose and manage diabetes in the community."
Surveys by the NZSSD and Diabetes New Zealand showed DHBs were failing the rapidly increasing number of people with diabetes.


Taranaki has never had a specialist diabetes service for the approximately 5000 people with disease, and the number is growing by five per cent a year.


"There are currently less than two specialist nurses and less than one day per week of physician time dedicated to the needs of this growing number of people," Dr Drury said. "It is growing very rapidly and there has been no growth in the service provision in Taranaki."

The deficiencies would lead to further complications and "this will have an increasing and inevitable impact on diabetes diagnosis and its long-term complications – kidney failure, amputation, blindness, premature heart disease and stroke".

TDHB clinical services manager Rosemary Clements said it provided 2.5 clinics a week, where 800 diabetic patients were seen by a specialist physician. It also employed four diabetes nurse specialists, who saw about 900 patients each year.

"We are very disappointed at the criticism and believe we are offering a good service to our diabetic patients. The services we provide do not appear to be reflected in the survey data," Mrs Clements said.


A "stay well" programme, aimed at giving people knowledge and tools to better understand and manage their condition, was provided by the TDHB, as was access to psychology and podiatry services when required.
"Taranaki DHB spends approximately $500,000 on specialist diabetes services alone. That is not including work in the community and other specialist services that are utilised," she said.

---

So, this is where I live. In the worst district in the country for diabetes care, money wise. No wonder I can't get funding for an insulin pump! And don't worry, I commented as such...

My Comment:

Type 1 Diabetic   #1   11:28 am Dec 03 2010

Yes, I do think that the level of service offered needs to be improved for diabetics, of all types (1, 2, LADA, gestational etc). But it's not the medical staff who are at fault - they do a great job and are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. It's just the MONEY which is not available.

It costs a lot to be a diabetic. Not many people know, but here in Taranaki diabetics are severely disadvantaged because our health board does not have funding for internationally accepted state of the art treatment - namely, insulin pumps and continuous glucose meters.

Yes, these devices are expensive, but remember that a diabetic (of any sort) did not choose to become diabetic, and if there is a medical treatment which has a high success rate in treating the daily complications of high and low bloodsugars, I believe we should have access to it. And how much would one of those cost? Try $7000 plus $2000 running costs per year. Too expensive for most.

Other health board around the country routinely fund these devices for those in need. But not here. It's almost worth moving for!

Please Taranaki District Health Board: look at how much it costs to be a diabetic - both in monetary and health/emotional terms - and do better for all of us!

In denial

I saw read about Eilish yesterday. But it did not hit home.

Today, the blog posts are flooding in. This sad story is all over the DOC:

TuDiabetes
Six Until Me
The Diabetic's Corner Booth
Talking Blood Glucose
Diabetesaliciousness
Sugabetic

I was once a thirteen year old girl with diabetes. It makes me feel numb and a bit terrified to think that any of us can be taken in the night like this. :(

Check out this article

According to the BBC, the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk is withdrawing it's insulin from sale in Greece, due to that country's response to it's own financial woes. An estimated 50,000 Greeks use this brand of insulin, and it is expected to cause problems in the diabetic community there.

You can read the full article here.

At least Novo Nordisk is offering a replacement... oh wait! What? Glucagen! No, that is not an insulin product - it's for putting your blood sugar up! D'oh! :(