We just got back from a screening visit for Samantha to participate in the Defend 2 clinical trial at a hospital in Indianapolis. She took a meal tolerance test and had lots of blood drawn. This is a phase 3 trial of the drug otelixizumab, which may possibly preserve some of her ability to produce insulin. (DEFEND stands for Durable-response therapy Evaluation For Early or New-onset type 1 Diabetes). She has a 2/3 chance of receiving the drug if she is accepted for the study. If she doesn’t receive it, we will hopefully be contributing to medical science that will someday reach the market and help others diagnosed with Type 1.
While it’s a shock to get this diagnosis & then sign right up for a little more uncertainty, I feel we are on the right road. We have to study & research & try things, or we will get nowhere. Besides, the endocrinologist in charge is a very nice man & the research nurse gave Samantha all kids of “diabetes swag” – a new meter, a new case, a new finger stick machine (what is the term for those?) and she even gets to wear a continuous glucose monitor for a while! She loves new technology.
I told you that there would be a ton of blood draws. Just wait until dosing, makes the MMT’s look like nothing! Great work on trying to get on the trial!
She got Accu Chek supplies. I think the meter is Accu Check Aviva. And a lancing device with rotating lances!! She just had One Touch meters that she got in the hospital and we were looking at getting her something different. This gives her a chance to try a few things.
I like the AC lancer too for the convenience. The best one is the one from bayer though, the free one you get with their meter. Can’t even feel it at all when you stick yourself.
I might go with “poker” from now on. I like it; it’s straight to the point. hahaha! Samantha doesn’t have the CGM yet; she will wear that for a week or so when she officially starts the study. I’ll have to write more updates. She should be getting the 8-day infusion after the start of February.
Just so you know, if it’s the same CGM protocol I have to do, the results are blinded. You won’t have a method to read the CGM, rather it just blindly collects the information.
