Hi there folks. It's been ages since I've posted and lots has happened.
I was referred for beta cell transplant last year and had my first in June and my second a few weeks later in August. The first one was amazing. My insulin requirements dropped from over 38u per day to around 5.
The second one wasn't as good. I picked up an infection when I was home after and it really floored me. The medications I take make me more susceptible to infections. The chest infection hit me hard and I had to gradually had to increase my insulin back to its original pre transplant level.
I had a c-peptide test in January (this measures the level of a hormone in the blood which only appears if functioning islet cells are present). Unfortunately the result of this test revealed that the level was too low to register.
The transplant team were hopeful that the cell production would pick up a bit after my health improved. Well they were right. About 6 weeks ago I started to find that my sugar results were running really low. I started to drop my insulin levels as my sugar results dropped too.
It's amazing, although the cells have had to deal with lots of infections they are still present and functioning.
I've got another c-peptide test on Monday and fingers crossed it will show that there is activity.
The transplant is done under local anaesthetic and I was awake for the whole thing. The medication regime is difficult and they have their own dude effects.
Would I do it again? Yes definitely. I now have some warnings if impending hypos, which is new. I lost warnings about 18 months ago. I don't pick up all if them but I get some. Which is a start right?
Any questions. Ask.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
I was referred for beta cell transplant last year and had my first in June and my second a few weeks later in August. The first one was amazing. My insulin requirements dropped from over 38u per day to around 5.
The second one wasn't as good. I picked up an infection when I was home after and it really floored me. The medications I take make me more susceptible to infections. The chest infection hit me hard and I had to gradually had to increase my insulin back to its original pre transplant level.
I had a c-peptide test in January (this measures the level of a hormone in the blood which only appears if functioning islet cells are present). Unfortunately the result of this test revealed that the level was too low to register.
The transplant team were hopeful that the cell production would pick up a bit after my health improved. Well they were right. About 6 weeks ago I started to find that my sugar results were running really low. I started to drop my insulin levels as my sugar results dropped too.
It's amazing, although the cells have had to deal with lots of infections they are still present and functioning.
I've got another c-peptide test on Monday and fingers crossed it will show that there is activity.
The transplant is done under local anaesthetic and I was awake for the whole thing. The medication regime is difficult and they have their own dude effects.
Would I do it again? Yes definitely. I now have some warnings if impending hypos, which is new. I lost warnings about 18 months ago. I don't pick up all if them but I get some. Which is a start right?
Any questions. Ask.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
