Cured diabetic speaks of his euphoria

Published: 1:15PM Thursday March 10, 2005 Source: AAP

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

A British diabetic patient "cured" thanks to a groundbreaking cell transplant procedure has spoken of his euphoria after 30 years of living with the illness.
  
Richard Lane, a 61-year-old businessman from Bromley, Kent, is the first person in the UK to have a fully successful islet cell transplantation in a patient with Type 1 diabetes.
  
Lane told the Guardian: "I haven't felt better in myself for 30 years. I have to pinch myself to ensure I am not dreaming."
  
He soon will no longer need the insulin he has taken since 1976 after having three transplants of islet cells from the pancreases of dead donors by a team at King's College Hospital, London.
  
He described the advancement of the illness, having to switch to a fast-acting insulin pump four years ago to control the "hypos" - attacks resulting from low blood sugar levels which sometimes led to unconsciousness.
  
He suffered one black-out while driving, injuring his spine and needing major surgery.
  
He has not had one attack since the first transplant and will be off insulin in a few days.
  
He said: "My wife used to dread me going out of the front door in case there was a call from the ambulance service. I am now doing half an hour's brisk walk every day, and I have lost a stone and a half (9.5kg) in six months. I am rather pleased with myself.
  
"After the accident I was lucky to be alive. I was doing six blood tests a day. Now I am down to two and my blood sugar levels don't seem to vary much between acceptable levels. It is almost
like being a totally different person."
  
Past islet transplants have produced partial successes, by reducing the amount of insulin that patients need although they still required regular injections.
  
Canadian researchers were the first to achieve insulin independence, now followed by the King's College team.
  
Islet cells are found in the pancreas and produce insulin, which is needed to control blood sugar levels.
  
They are obtained from donor pancreases and injected into the patient's liver.
  
Once there the cells develop their own blood supply and start producing insulin.
  
Researcher Professor Stephanie Amiel, a consultant in diabetes, said the breakthrough was "hugely exciting".
  
"The implications for the future are enormous.
  
"Eventually this could mean the end of insulin dependence for
all Type 1 diabetes sufferers."
  
Nigel Heaton, a consultant liver surgeon at King's College Hospital, said the transplantation was "remarkable".
  
"The result of this work will have far-reaching implications, not only in Type 1 diabetes patients, but also in the wider area of cell research."

• Email this article
• Print this article
• Text size + -
• more...
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook

Most Popular

1. Engineer calls for Williamson's resignation watch
2. Dog bites TV presenter live on air watch
3. Investigation after sweet treat turns sour watch
4. Endangered sea lion shot on Otago Peninsula
5. Marines claim 'ignorance' after posing with Nazi symbol

Advertising