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UNDERSTANDING DIABETES

What is Diabetes? 

The Alberta Diabetes Foundation funded the clinical research of Dr. Ray Rajotte for the first 12 years of its existence. Dr. Rajotte pioneered the first-ever islet cell transplant – the biggest breakthrough in diabetes research since the discovery of insulin was made. His work, plus an expanded islet-cell transplant team, and the addition of anti-rejection protocol, ended up becoming the “Edmonton Protocol”, now the international standard of care for islet-cell transplantation.  
 
The Protocol was developed in 2000. After that, the Alberta Diabetes Foundation invested in the capital campaign to build the world-class Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. In 2007 the Li Ka Shing Centre opened and became the home for the prestigious Alberta Diabetes Institute. 

Since then, the Foundation has continued to invest in world class research (both Type 1 and Type 2) right here in Alberta. The ADF works in tandem with some of the world’s best Alberta based diabetes researchers and allocates funding where and when it is needed most, ensuring that important diabetes research and projects do not become stalled. We are able to fund projects, even at an early stage, often filling in gaps left by traditional granting organizations. 

The researchers in Alberta are confident that a world without diabetes is possible, and today they are doing more than providing sustainable solutions to treating diabetes – our researchers are on their way to a cure. 

In 2018 the Alberta Diabetes Foundation celebrated its 30th year of funding diabetes research and will continue to do so until a cure is found.

Is Diabetes Serious?

Diabetes is a leading cause of death by disease. If left untreated or improperly managed, the high levels of blood sugar associated with diabetes can slowly damage both the small and large blood vessels in the body, resulting in a variety of complications.

Who Has It?

Over 3 million Canadians. Diabetes can affect anyone, at any age, at any time. People of Aboriginal, Hispanic and African descent have a higher prevalence of diabetes. For First Nation Canadians, diabetes rates are at least three to five times higher than in the rest of Canada’s population. 80% of people with diabetes are overweight. 89% of people with diabetes have one or more risk factors over which they can control: smoking, obesity and hypertension.

What Is Insulin?

In the days before insulin therapy, diabetes was a slow but sure death sentence that typically struck children and adults under 30.

Insulin is a hormone which is produced in the pancreas. When the levels of glucose (sugar) in our bloodstream increase, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin’s mission is to facilitate the transfer to glucose to body cells so that all of the body’s functions are adequately fueled. The insulin connects to the cell’s receptors, which triggers an “unlock” mechanism and allows the glucose to pass through the cellular wall where it can be broken down and used for energy. If there is no insulin available or if the receptors are not working properly, then glucose is unable to filter through the cells and the body literally starves, no matter how much glucose is circulating in the blood.
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