Patient Testimonials
Tim Gildea's Story | Kimberly Menard's Story
One summer in July, about a year after finishing high school, I began showing signs and typical symptoms of diabetes. At that time I was unaware of the disease. I was getting to the point of not being able to function normally; losing weight, drinking a couple gallons of anything daily, and I was so tired it was a huge effort to work.
I stopped at the family doctor and explained that I was quite sure I was having symptoms of diabetes. I really just wanted to have him tell me I was wrong and pick up something to help me feel better. After a quick exam I was sent to our hospital for a blood test that confirmed a
dangerously high blood sugar level.
I was admitted to the hospital and stayed for nearly two weeks lying in bed. There I had blood drawn daily and was taught how to give myself shots. It was explained to me that this was necessary to stay alive and serious complications, such as blindness, loss of limb or other serious health problems, could result if I did not take care of myself.
Since that time there have been some major improvements in learning to control diabetes. We have come from going to hospital labs once a month for two glucose checks to using a personal home monitor (nearly twenty years after my onset); from injecting u-80, suspension type insulin made from cows and pigs taken once a day, to a more modern humalog, or lantus in convenient dispensers.
In September of 2004, I had episodes of very low blood sugar causing me to become unconscious. My wife called the paramedics to help me regain consciousness. From there it became obvious to her that we were going to have to find a better way to approach my disease. Not long after asking questions and taking information from our local doctor, she found Dr. Oberholzer and his staff at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
An initial consultation appointment was scheduled to explain the program to me. Soon a second appointment was made to further explain the islet cell program and to determine if I could be a candidate for this procedure. Step-by-step visits to the research center would confirm that my healthwould allow me to become part of this amazing study. I was also informed that only 8 percent of subjects tested would be able to have the procedure.
Not long after testing, I received a call from Dr. Oberholzer telling me I had, in fact, been chosen for the study. This was almost unbelievable; I was very excited and looked forward to the call that could change my life. Just a couple of weeks went by and the call came. Dr. Oberholzer said that he had received an organ, and that the cells had been prepared successfully. My wife and daughter quickly returned from an out-of-town shopping trip and we drove to Chicago. That was February 12th of this year and the infusion went very well. This was a simple procedure that allowed me to leave the hospital and go home the next day. Tests would continue throughout the program until my second call came on March 26th to receive my next infusion of donor cells, which was just as successful as the first. The cells were working very well and my insulin usage began to steadily decline. To be safe and conservative, I took smaller amounts of insulin on a monitored schedule and then I completely stopped taking any insulin. It is hard to believe and surely something I never thought I would see in my lifetime.
I realize I am very lucky to be a part of this successful program, and continue to do very well. I enjoy the easy way of life without continuous insulin scheduling and low blood sugar episodes. New developments could help millions of diabetics like me. I continue to hear promising news from the doctors and staff at the UIC General Clinical Research Center that help me, and I thank them all. I hope that my part in this research has been as helpful to the study as it has been for me. Continue the good work- after all, maybe some day a 4-year-old child can start school without the worry of unstable blood sugar and medications, leading into their normal life free of complications. Thanks again.
For information on the procedure, click here