In a rare moment away from the carbon tax debate, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott joined patients and researchers in Melbourne recently to celebrate the islet transplant program at St. Vincent’s Institute (SVI).
Patients with type 1 diabetes typically require frequent injections of insulin to keep blood sugar at safe levels. The transplant program is aimed at people with severe hypoglycemia who don’t respond to adjustments in their insulin regimens.
Seven patients with type 1 diabetes have successfully received insulin-producing islet transplants since the program’s inception. Of these, four recipients no longer rely on insulin injections to keep their blood sugar at safe levels.
Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of type 1 diabetes, and can eventually lead to blindness.
Type 1 diabetic and islet transplant recipient Elaine Robinson recently celebrated her third anniversary of being insulin free
Type 1 diabetic and islet transplant recipient Elaine Robinson recently celebrated her third anniversary of being insulin free. She joined SVI Director Professor Tom Kay and other patients in thanking Mr. Abbott for his support of the program as a former Health Minister.
Mr. Abbott was guest speaker at a lunch hosted by the SVI, which raised funds for Type 1 Diabetes Research..
