odd Lawrence keeps on celebrating. He wants to tell the world about the organ transplant surgery that saved his life and made it possible for him to compete in the Canadian Transplant Games winning medals – and hearts – in the process. “Every time I’d hit a good golf shot, or sink a long putt, I’d yell, ‘For my donor! For my donor!’” he says enthusiastically.  “This is my life. This is a happy story.”

Fresh start
Since his diagnosis with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12, Todd had to monitor his blood sugar and inject insulin several times a day. At age 33, diagnosed with diabetes-related kidney failure, Todd underwent assessment and was accepted on the waiting list of The Toronto General Hospital’s (TGH) pancreas-kidney transplant program, a service offered by the University Health Network’s Multi-Organ Transplant Program and the largest of its kind in Canada. While on the waiting list for a healthy kidney and a pancreas (produces insulin), he went on dialysis and underwent three, four-hour hospital visits every week for three years.

The challenge 
Todd’s is just one success story. Andrea Norgate, Registered Nurse and Co-ordinator of the Toronto Pancreas Transplant Program at the TGH explains how organ transplantation transforms the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. Usually diagnosed in children or adolescents, juvenile or type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone required to turn sugar into energy. The disease can be managed with daily insulin injections or infusions to regulate blood sugar levels, plus attention to nutrition and exercise. There is no proven way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Common long term complications may include kidney disease, heart disease, stroke, blindness, limb amputation and erectile dysfunction.

New hope
In the program’s 15 years at TGH, close to 300 patients have undergone either a pancreas or pancreas-kidney transplant procedure. Andrea adds, “It truly is the gift of life.” Patients are 90% insulin  independent after the first year post-transplant and 84% are still insulin independent after five years. “There is new hope for people with type 1 diabetes. It’s not a cure, but it’s the closest thing we’ve got to it.”

At risk
More than three million Canadians live with diabetes. About 90% have type 2 (the body produces insufficient insulin, or does not use it properly) and another six million Canadians have pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Without treatment about 25% of those with IGT will develop full-blown diabetes within three to five years, putting them at risk for serious complications. The alarming increase in type 2 diabetes is due to an aging population, sedentary lifestyles, high-risk populations and diet-related obesity. About 80% of Canadians with diabetes will die from diabetes-induced heart disease.

Take charge
The important news is that early detection of pre-diabetes may help prevent the onset of the disease with simple lifestyle changes, and if needed, medication. Two large studies showed that with a menu of low-calorie, low-fat, high-fibre foods and at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly, individuals with IGT lost approximately 5% of their initial body weight, and reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58%. Risk was cut almost 71% for those over age 60.