Almost a Cure

One of the many things Albertans must be proud of is the heights of science and technology that our province has reached, with our ground-breaking research, in the hopes of finding a cure for diabetes. Across Alberta, many skilled, determined, and passionate individuals have been working with leading-edge technologies and tools to find a cure to create a world free of diabetes. One such individual is Dr. Ray Rajotte, who, in 1988, founded the Islet Transplant team, later joined by Dr. James Shapiro, that pioneered the first-ever islet cell transplantation. Their research became the biggest breakthrough in diabetes since the discovery of insulin. The islet cell transplantation, along with an anti-rejection system, became known as the internationally recognized 'Edmonton Protocol' in 2000.

Imagine you have Type 1 diabetes. For a lot of your life your body has ceased to produce insulin and the blood glucose regulating islet cells in your liver are non-functional. You struggle daily to monitor and manage this disease. Making matters worse, you can’t feel the usual symptoms of a blood glucose high or low, increasing your risk of going dangerously low and passing out or worse. This is where the Edmonton Protocol will change your life. The Edmonton Protocol is a treatment where healthy islet cells are transplanted into the liver of a patient suffering from Type 1 diabetes. The liver is able to restore blood vessels around the transplanted islet cells and then carry the insulin into the bloodstream, working as though the patient had a healthy pancreas. There are several advantages to this treatment. It is a minor procedure that comes at a reasonable cost, which may only require a day or two stay at the hospital. The Edmonton Protocol has proven to be the only therapy that can achieve a balanced blood glucose level without needing to a person to inject insulin, giving people with Type 1 diabetes freedom from insulin for a time. This ground breaking research continues to grow and aim to make a difference in people’s lives who are suffering from diabetes. However, it is not a permanent solution.­­­­

Diabetes is a rapidly growing concern worldwide. Around 300,000 Canadians currently have T1d and the rate seems to be growing at a rate of 5.1 percent per year. The estimation is higher than the global average. However, around 600 patients have undergone a successful islet-cell transplantation in Edmonton, and nearly 2,500 worldwide ever since the Edmonton Protocol came into being. The change may be slow, but it is steady.

With every successful step, comes a challenge that the researchers such as Dr. Rajotte and Dr. Shapiro are continuously working to resolve. Where Dr. Rajotte is focused on eliminating the need of anti-rejection drugs and producing an unlimited source of islet tissue, Dr. Shapiro has been focused on improving long-term survival of transplanted islets and adjusting transplanted tissue immune response. Both are still not a cure.

In hopes to create a world without diabetes, we must work together to fund such exceptional research and find a cure. You can be the difference. On May 30th, 2019 , the Alberta Diabetes Foundation invites you to join the Day to End Diabetes, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Edmonton Protocol and fund a cure for diabetes. This day is an open house style party being held at the Li Ka Shing Centre, which will also be shared live on local Edmonton radio stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Listen in on 630 CHED, Global News 880 Edmonton, 92.5 The ‘CHUCK, and CISN Country 103.9 all day for stories, diabetes research news, and fundraising highlights. Phone in, text, or come down to the Li Ka Shing Centre to make a pledge in person. Together we can find a cure and end diabetes.