I haven’t posted to this board for a few years… although I might stalk the discussions from time to time. I wanted to share the excitement of having my article about Type 1 Diabetes published to an online magazine with others that understand the experience of being sick and hoping for a cure…
What a wonderful article, Jessica. you state clearly and succinctly the points that need to be made to reveal how we are being short-changed by" Big pharma’"s antipathy towards a cure…Thanks for your efforts in everything you are doing… You have found your calling as a writer and and as giver to causes outside of your own concerns . I am grateful that you do what you do.
God Bless,
Brunetta
Type One diabetic 43 years
3 time blood donator in Dr. Faustman’s mtrials at MGH
Good stuff for sure. The frustration is beyond belief as someone extremely sensitive to the sugar levels I spend many hours a day feeling ill to where I have become literally crippled. We still don’t know if the problem lies in that they don’t want to cure it because of profit as obviously someone else will profit with a cure. Sure the insulin and Stick manufacturers would loose out. Heck if BCG could work on its own we’d probably be dependent on that for life also and they could up the price on it. In my mind if diabetes didn’t cause secondary complications I doubt they would be even trying to cure it. Why? Because those complications cost our healthcare system mega money. Though the secondary comps are obviously the most devastating part of the condition to face I think the fact that someone has to walk around feeling ill most of there life is way overlooked. Yes so far I’ve been fortunate as a diabetic to not develop anything majorly serious from it but I live in total distress missing out on everything that life is all about because I am not well. This disease is Jekyll and Hyde and to be honest I have no idea how anyone could be in a relationship with someone that has it? In the end if we can’t get a real cure and eventually have glucose responsive insulin available It would be much more peaceful living with it. Right now all my support efforts (funding) will continue to go to Dr Faustman only.
Fantastic article! I left a comment there too. EVERYONE at TUD should read it and pass it on.
Great job Bluefrango! 
Amazing, smart article. Thank you for writing it!!! 
~Pam, Type 1 for nearly 31 years
You wrote all that I’ve been thinking all these years!!! All is a business!!!
Thank you for writing this article.
Congrats! Isn’t it wonderful to finally have your voice heard? Keep writing and putting your thoughts out there.
I was going to comment with “Dr Denise Faustman” while reading your article. Halfway through, you brought her up. Good job. I’ve spoken with Dr Faustman for a length of time on the telephone and she instilled so much hope in me that I burst into tears while talking to her. I’ve donated blood to her 3 times in the past 2 years.There is an 8 month waiting list to schedule an appointment to donate blood to her research.
In the books I’ve published dealing with Type 1 (fiction or non-fiction), I’ve mentioned her work- urging the public to consider donating to her. She is wonderful. So is all of her staff. They seem to really care and I take major pride in the fact that I was able to be a part of their studies. They are on the threshold of beginning Phase II in 2012. I am crossing my fingers, bruised as they may be, that I will be able to take part in their BCG administration. I’ll be the guinea pig. I will.
Her research is completely public funded through donations. This will keep the pharmaceutical companies’ tainted fingers out of the cure’s pockets and ensure the cure comes forth for us all.
I do so agree with you Marps… I will be a Guinea Pig in this trial, because I believe in her work.Even if I am not selected for the BCG admnistration, I will continue to donate blood, and money as long as I am able.It will help others and I believe completely in her research. You can see photos of this July’s blood donations on My page under My Photos,
God bless,
Brunetta
Guys,
Dr Faustman updated her facebook page with some responses to questions. One in particular about the second compound for the treatment. She noted that she believes BCG on its own will have a clinical benefit but hints that a second compound will likely be needed to experience a full reversal… I know BCG will be used to kill off the bad T-cells which apparently its doing but its likely the regeneration will not be enough to keep us off insulin. She mentioned screening some other compounds but at the moment their focus is on BCG only. Once phase 2 gets rolling we should know more but still just needing another part of the formula could mean in the end it won’t work. The only other companies working with regenerative compounds that I am aware of is Exsulin (ingap peptide) and CureDm’s Pancreate which is now owned by Sanfoni Aventis. Unfortunately Sanofi hasn’t done jack ■■■■ with it. I almost get the feeling that BCG and one of those compounds could very well offer disease reversal but what’s the odds that either company would collaborate with Dr F?
Thanks for all the positive feedback! Ya, it felt really good to write… And I’ve had a few friends now say they want to donate to Dr Faustman. It feels like a win