Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2018 i Diabetic Living Australia

Almost every day I receive calls and emails from people with diabetes, or their carers, with questions about what they should eat. Often, they’ve met with an accredited diabetes educator or dietitian but have found that walking the supermarket aisles can be confusing. “How do I know if something is low GI? What’s a carb exchange? My husband’s been eating this way for 50 years – how am I going to change his diet?” We don’t have all the answers, but we can certainly point you in the right direction to changing your eating habits for the better. In this issue we have a special section that tells you everything you need to know about carbs, fat, protein, fibre and whether it’s a good idea to go vegetarian – turn…

1 YOU’RE NOT ALONE About 280 Aussies develop diabetes every day – one person every five minutes. And for every four people diagnosed, someone else is living with diabetes but doesn’t know. The longer diabetes goes undiagnosed, the more it can impact your overall health. 2 IT'S YOUR MOVE Continuing or starting regular physical activity will help lower your short- and long-term BGLs and can also help certain diabetes medications work more effectively. Plus, along with a healthy diet, losing weight – as little as 5 per cent of your body weight – can also have a positive impact. 3 WE’RE HERE Wondering where to start? Combined with advice from your healthcare team, you’ve made a great first step. In this (and every!) issue of Diabetic Living, you’ll find practical,…

Should I avoid bread if I have diabetes and am trying to lose weight? Dr Marsh says: I get asked this a lot. Many people think bread is something to avoid, yet the right type of bread can be a healthy carb choice. It is often lower in carbs and glycemic index (GI), and higher in fibre and nutrition than other carb choices such as cracker biscuits, rice, pasta, potato and many processed breakfast cereals. The best choices are dense, grainy breads – the ones with lots of visible grains and seeds. These breads have more nutrition and fibre, and when the grains are still intact, rather than milled into flour, they have a lower GI. If you don’t like grains, or can’t manage them due to dental or digestive…

1 AGEING POPULATION. The elderly are more at risk of developing type 2. 2 WEIGHT GAIN. Being overweight or obese makes the body much less responsive to insulin. 3 REDUCED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. Mechanisation of transport, work, domestic processes and prolonged periods of sedentary (sitting) behaviour make us less active. 4 DIET. An ‘energy-dense’ diet that is low in fibre leads to weight gain and, potentially, diabetes. Processed and sweetened foods also contribute significantly. 5 ETHNICITY. Individuals from certain ethnic backgrounds, such as Indigenous Australians, Pacific Islanders and those from South and South-East Asia, are at higher risk. As these numbers increase in Australia, the total number of PWD grows. 6 BETTER TREATMENT OF DIABETES. As medical therapy improves, fewer PWD die prematurely and this also increases the total number of…

PASTA WITH CRAB AND TOMATO PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS SERVES 2 (AS A MAIN) 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil2 large zucchini, sliced into rounds½ red onion, cut into thin slivers2 garlic cloves, finely chopped250g punnet grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered125g fresh linguine or gluten-free pasta170g can crab meat, drained, moisture squeezed outZest and juice of ½ limeFreshly ground black pepper½ bunch basil, leaves picked 1 Heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes or until vegetables soften. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. 2 Meanwhile, cook pasta in a medium saucepan of boiling water, following pack instructions, or until al dente. Drain well and return to…

MINTY MELONADE PREP TIME: 10 MINS (+ 1 HOUR CHILLING) SERVES 8 (AS A SNACK) 1 (about 1.5kg) whole honeydew melon, peeled, deseeded and chopped 125ml (½ cup) fresh lime juice6 mint leaves Chilled soda water, to serveExtra mint leaves (optional), to serve 1 Put melon, lime juice and mint leaves in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Transfer to a jug. Cover and put in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or until chilled. 2 Pour about 160ml (⅔ cup) melon mixture into each of 8 glasses. Top each glass with about 80ml (⅓ cup) soda water. Stir gently. Serve immediately with extra mint leaves, if desired. NUTRITION INFO LC GF PER SERVE 246kJ, protein 1g, total fat 0.5g (sat. fat 0g), carbs 11g, fibre 2g, sodium 84mg…

Less than seven per cent of Australians are eating the recommended five serves of vegetables a day. So there’s room for improvement in our daily diets! Swapping regular pasta for vegie noodles is the perfect way to boost your vegetable and nutrient intake and cut your carbs and kilojoules, while still enjoying all your favourite sauces. SWEET POTATO GF Rich in potassium and vitamin A, this powerful starchy carb is also low GI, helping you manage blood glucose levels and keeping you feeling fuller, longer. Peel a 400g small orange sweet potato. Use a spiraliser to cut potato into long strands. Bring saucepan of water to the boil. Add potato strands. Cook for 2 minutes or until tender. Drain. Serves 4 (as part of a main). How our food works…

Our Nutrition Info boxes sit alongside each recipe. Use them to track your nutritional requirements, as well as count carbs, carb exchanges and find out whether a recipe is low-, medium- or high-GI, or gluten free. Easy! Shannon Lavery, Dietitian (above left), Alison Roberts, Food Editor (right) COUNTRY-STYLE TOMATO FLATBREAD see recipe, page 60 NUTRITION INFO PER SERVE 1140kJ, protein 12g, total fat 14.4g (sat. fat 3.9g), carbs 21g, fibre 5g, sodium 177mg • Carb exchanges 1½ • GI estimate medium Serves 2 (as a main) We show you whether a food is designed to be a between-meals snack, breakfast, lunch (a lighter main) or dinner (the main meal of the day). When we say, “as an occasional dish”, it should only be eaten as a treat, such as once…

Almost six million Australians make a difference every year, volunteering for a number of local and international organisations and causes. To begin volunteering, you need to decide whether you choose a role based on skills you want to improve or gain, or select an organisation or cause that is close to your heart and want to help. Once you’ve found an opportunity that best suits you (remember to also look at your availability for one-off, short- or longterm opportunities), you simply need to express your interest, and from there, get involved! Whatever you choose, volunteering is a great way to meet new people and try something new, and can help you identify your true passion. Not sure where to start? Visit volunteer.com.au or govolunteer.com.au.…

•Make swaps in the foods you already eat. At home and at restaurants, choose brown rice, wholegrain bread and crackers and wholemeal pasta whenever available. • Select wholegrain (and high-fibre) cereals. For hot cereal, opt for traditional porridge, oat bran and quinoa. For dry cereal, look for a wholegrain cereal that also contains at least 4g of fibre per serving. •Purchase wholegrain breads, rolls, buns, tortillas, pita pockets and pizza crusts. If there’s no claim on the package, check the ingredients. It should list at least one of the following: wholegrain [name of grain], whole [wheat or other grain], or stoneground whole [grain]. •Work whole grains into your recipes. Add ½ cup cooked whole grains to your favourite canned or homemade soup, side salad or casserole. Add uncooked oats to…

Rewarding ourselves often involves food – and typically not apples or carrots! To control weight and blood glucose, consider new habits that help you avoid mindless eating. Eating for reasons other than hunger can be triggered by emotions (anxiety or boredom), situations (doughnuts at a meeting), thoughts (negative self-talk) and physiological needs (poor food choices). Choose a zero-kilojoule reward and break the chain of mindless eating. thank you 1 Unwind after a busy day Find a non-food relaxation routine. If routine bores you, make a list of non-eating soothers, such as turning on music or petting your dog, and select one at random. 2 Reward your accomplishments Do make time to celebrate victories large or small – deprivation is no fun. This can involve spending money, such as for a…

1 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! Think New Year’s resolutions are a waste of time? Not true! Research shows planning to start (or stop!) something on the first day of a new year is significantly more likely to produce results compared to committing to a ‘new resolution’ on any old day. Still, nearly one in four people who make New Year’s resolutions give up on them after just seven days. Avoid being one of them this year by... STICKING TO JUST ONE OR TWO Behavioural scientists have confirmed our brains can’t handle working on too many resolutions at once – so to bump up your chances of success, choose a couple that matter most to you and run with them. WRITING THEM DOWN Committing those resolutions to paper, rather than simply…

STAR LETTER RECIPES A DELIGHT I’ve been a subscriber since your magazine began and I cut out the recipes I particularly love and stick them in my recipe book. I have a great collection now. I was delighted to find in the September/ October issue in the desserts section that you printed the ‘Nutrition Info’ box with the recipe, not on the photo… FANTASTIC! I don’t have to scribble the nutrition info onto the recipe. Thank you for the great magazine. Lesley Durbin, NSW End to devastation I’m a recently diagnosed 19-year -old diabetic. When I received the news that I was diabetic, I was devastated. I thought this was the end and that I would have to live on a diet of vegies and salad just to steer clear…

“We wanted to celebrate one year of being alive and healthy with type 1” With a heart of gold and a love of origami, Morgan Wray raised over $200 (including money from an Everyday Hero campaign) for the Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre in Perth in October. After being diagnosed in 2016, Morgan, 8, – whose father also has type 1 – wanted to do something special to mark his year of good health. “We had lots of ideas but nothing really grabbed Morgan,” says his mother, Sasha. “Then we watched the movie Paper Planes and it seemed like such a great idea.” With this in mind, they opened the event to the public – welcoming 40 children aged five to 12 – after their local PCYC donated the…

WATERMELON, RASPBERRY AND LIME POPS PREP TIME: 20 MINS (+ OVERNIGHT FREEZING) SERVES 8 (AS A DESSERT OR OCCASIONAL SNACK) Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime480g (3 cups) chopped seedless watermelon flesh110g (½ cup) raspberries260g (1 cup) vanilla fat-free yoghurt 1 Put 1 Tbsp lime juice, watermelon and raspberries in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. Press through a finemesh sieve into a 1L (4-cup) measuring jug, discarding any seeds. Stir in 1 tsp of the zest. 2 Pour mixture evenly between 8 x 80ml (⅓ cup) ice-block moulds. Freeze for 2 hours or until the mixture is thick and slushy. 3 Combine yoghurt and remaining lime zest in a small bowl. Spoon evenly over the watermelon layer. Cover with lids or insert wooden sticks. Freeze overnight or…

Alcohol has always been a common component of the Australian culture. We see it at family gatherings, on holidays, during lunches, dinners and even “champagne breakfasts”. The start of a new year is always a good time to pause and reflect on your lifestyle choices and particularly how much alcohol you are drinking to ensure you are not doing yourself lifelong damage. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for safe alcohol consumption recommend healthy adults limit their intake to no more than two standard drinks per day and to include at least two alcohol-free days per week. When enjoyed in moderation, alcohol can be included safely as part of a healthy lifestyle for most people. However, drinking in excess of the NHMRC guidelines can increase your risk…

Menu to serve six STARTER Beetroot-cured salmon with herbed cream cheese MAIN Lobster tails with herb vinaigrette SIDES Radicchio, pear and cucumber salad with lemon dressing Shaved sprout, walnut, pomegranate and feta salad DESSERT Berry jelly trifle stacks DRINKS Blueberry and lime bellini (with starter) Watermelon iced tea (with main) BEETROOT-CURED SALMON WITH HERBED CREAM CHEESE PREP TIME: 30 MINS (+ 3 DAYS CURING) SERVES 6 (AS A STARTER) 400g skinless and boneless salmon fillets⅓ cup extra light cream cheese1 Tbsp finely chopped herbs (such as dill and flat-leaf parsley)Finely grated zest and juice of ½ a lemonFreshly ground black pepper3 cups picked watercress leaves or baby rocket leavesLemon wedges (optional), to serve Beetroot cure 1 large beetroot, peeled, chopped2 Tbsp ginFinely grated zest of 1 orangeFinely grated zest of…

TOMATO, ASPARAGUS AND FENNEL SALAD PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 5 MINS SERVES 4 (AS A SIDE) 8 asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed, diagonally sliced into 5cm pieces1 small fennel bulb, fronds intact50g (2 cups) baby spinach leaves500g mixed tomatoes (such as cherry, grape or regular), halved or cut into chunks50g bocconcini, cut into 2cm pieces1/2 cup small basil leaves2 Tbsp finely shredded parmesan Lemon and eschalot vinaigrette 2 eschalots, finely chopped3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice1 Tbsp olive oil1 garlic clove, crushedFreshly ground black pepper 1 Bring a small saucepan of water to the boil. Add asparagus and cook for 1-2 minutes or until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool quickly. Drain again. 2 To make the vinaigrette, combine the eschalots, lemon juice, oil, garlic and…

Shop smart. Always choose wholegrain breads to boost your fibre intake, aiming for at least 7g fibre per 100g. Also check that the sodium levels are no more than 400mg per 100g, and that one slice of bread contains about 15g of carbohydrate. In these recipes we have chosen to use one slice of Helga’s Wholemeal Grain bread. GOAT’S CHEESE, BLACKBERRY AND ALMOND Spread 15g goat’s cheese over 1 slice toasted bread. Top with 2 Tbsp blackberries, 1 Tbsp sliced almonds and 1 tsp honey. NUTRITION INFO PER SERVE 1070kJ, protein 10g, total fat 10g (sat. fat 2.8g), carbs 28g, fibre 6g, sodium 256mg • Carb exchanges 2 • GI estimate low TOMATO, BOCCONCINI AND BASIL Top 1 slice toasted bread with 3 thin slices tomato, 30g thinly sliced bocconcini,…

IN THE ZONE Breville’s Steam Zone offers home cooks an efficient and effective way to steam food in their own kitchen. It’s stainless steel and features a tray for steaming larger items such as poultry or fish. It includes two large individual stainless-steel baskets and is also compatible with traditionalstyle bamboo baskets for dumplings and Asian-inspired dishes. RRP $299.95. For stockist details call 1300 139 798 or visit breville.com.au BREAKFAST IDEA Cut 1 peach into wedges and toss with 125g halved small strawberries and the pulp of 1 passionfruit. Spoon over 2 Tbsp low-fat Greek-style vanilla yoghurt and 2 Tbsp Crunchola cereal. 60 SECOND BREAKFAST IDEA PER SERVE 925kJ, protein 6g, total fat 5.2g (sat. fat 2.1g), carbs 32g, fibre 10g, sodium 30mg • Carb exchanges 2 • GI estimate…

Does having a vegetarian diet guarantee you’ll eat healthier? Considering the variety of vegetarian eating plans, you’re likely to eat healthier just by virtue of the foods that you’ll mainly have. However, if you eat lots of cheese, full-fat dairy foods, added fats, processed foods and sweets, you likely won’t see your health improve. If I become a vegetarian, should I have any nutritional concerns? The more food groups you include and the greater variety of foods you eat, the easier it will be to meet your nutrition needs. Nutrients that may be hardest to get in sufficient supply are vitamins B12, omega-3 fats, iron and zinc. How do I stop missing meat? One reason you may miss meat is habit. If your meal planning has a “Where’s the beef?”…

•Learn the label lingo. The “good source of fibre” nutrition claim can be used if a serving contains at least 4g of dietary fibre. A food can claim it’s an “excellent source of fibre” if a serving has at least 7g of dietary fibre. Remember to consider your serving size as this may differ to the recommended serving size listed on pack. • Add small amounts. Sprinkle ground flax, chia seeds, wheatgerm, psyllium husks, sesame seeds or chopped nuts over hot or dry cereal, yoghurt and fruit to up your intake of fibre. But keep an eye on the kilojoule counts in these foods. They add up quickly, and you only need 1-2 Tbsp to get more fibre. •Enjoy more nutrientpacked legumes. Use dried, frozen and canned legumes (beans and…

The average Australian household spends about $700 on groceries each month – that’s more than $8000 of yearly income going straight to the supermarket. But you can trim that price tag, especially when you fill the trolley with tasty, nutritious food. We’ll show you how! GATHER DISCOUNTS Only for healthy food your family needs from discount sites, store websites and emails, or discount apps. For discount sites, try: • groupon.com.au • groceryrun.com.au • mumgo.com.au or Google 'Supermarket Discount Vouchers' for more. At home • Take inventory. What foods do you already have? Keep a tally sheet inventory inside your pantry and organise it so soon-to-expire items are front and centre for immediate use. • Call your store manager. Find out what money-saving options are open to you. Ask things like…

It is estimated that 3.7 million Australian adults are survivors of child abuse – emotional, physical and sexual – alone. While this is a very significant number, the amount of Australian adult survivors of childhood trauma, in a more broad study, is estimated at five million. Many of these adults continue to struggle with mental and physical health, self-esteem and relationships, most of which have been behaviours adopted as coping mechanisms from trauma. Coping strategies – varying from eating disorders and overeating, to alcohol and/or drug abuse, to smoking – can often have a negative result on their life, resulting in mental health issues, social and medical problems to name a few. While genetics can be the cause of a person’s weight gain, the World Health Organization found “the primary…

START HERE DIABETES 101 Getting your head around "diabetes lingo"? Read on... • When should I test my blood glucose levels (BGLs)? This varies depending on the type of diabetes and your medication, but possible times include before meals, two hours after eating, before bed, before you exercise and if you’re feeling unwell. •What should my BGLs be? As a guide, if you have type 1 diabetes, a healthy target to aim for is 4-6mmol/L before you eat, and 4-8mmol/L two hours after starting a meal. If you have type 2 diabetes, aim for 6-8mmol/L before meals, and 6-10mmol/L two hours after starting a meal. Ask your doctor or Credentialled Diabetes Educator for more guidance. •What’s mmol/L? It stands for millimoles per litre of blood, and is how BGLs are…

Should I buy a massage machine/circulation booster to help the pain in my feet? Danielle says: Many of these devices use Electrical Muscle Stimulation and should therefore be used with caution. It is highly recommended that you have your feet assessed by a podiatrist or trained health professional before buying a device that claims to improve your circulation and reduce swelling and foot pain. The concern is if you have heart problems, especially if you have a metallic implant such as a pacemaker, have symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (clot in the leg), or are unsure of the cause of your symptoms. It is also not recommended if you have reduced feeling (peripheral neuropathy) in your feet, due to the risk of irritation and burns, or skin irritation or wounds…

GROCERIES □ 250ml bottle Sandhurst Fine Foods Italian Balsamic Caramelised Vinegar □ 240g pkt Old El Paso Whole Grain Tortillas □ 170g can crab meat □ 300g jar Kalamata olives □ 270g jar Sandhurst ‘Lite’ Semi-Dried Tomatoes □ 100g pkt sesame seeds FRUIT AND VEGETABLES □ 2 red onions □ 3 pack Baby Gem lettuce □ 3 x 250g punnets grape or cherry tomatoes □ 105g mixed salad leaves □ 350g sliced stir-fry vegetable mix □ 2 Lebanese cucumbers □ Small knob ginger □ 2 large tomatoes □ 4 large zucchini □ 1 bunch asparagus □ 1 small avocado □ 1 large red capsicum □ 1 mango □ 2 limes □ 1 large lemon □ 1 bunch basil □ 1 bunch coriander MEAT AND POULTRY □ 250g beef fillet steak…

GNOCCHI WITH PORK AND TOMATO SAUCE PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS SERVES 1 (AS A MAIN) 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil1/2 brown onion, finely chopped2 garlic cloves, crushed100g extra-lean pork mince1 tsp drained capers2 Kalamata olives, pitted, chopped185ml (3/4 cup) no-added-salt canned chopped tomatoes60ml (1/4 cup) water1 tomato, choppedFreshly ground black pepper100g gnocchi (from the fridge section of the supermarket) or gluten-free gnocchi1/4 cup basil leaves, shredded 1 Heat oil in a medium non-stick frying pan over medium. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes or until onion starts to soften. 2 Add pork mince and increase heat to high. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until mince changes colour. Add capers, olives, canned tomatoes, water and fresh tomato. Cover and bring to…

There’s nothing better than fresh Australian seafood to make summer entertaining delicious. This light, healthy and zesty soup takes the very best ingredients and turns them into your new favourite dish in no time. BRITTANY FISH SOUP PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 35 MINS SERVES 4 (AS A MAIN) Pinch saffron threads1 Tbsp boiling water1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 leek, thinly sliced2 sticks celery, sliced8 cloves garlic, crushed½ bunch thyme leaves4 bay leavesFreshly ground black pepper1L (4 cups) water500ml (2 cups) Massel Salt-Reduced Chicken Stock400g orange sweet potato, peeled, finely diced1 swede, finely chopped200g mussels, cleaned400g white fish fillets, diced300g small squid, cleaned, sliced1 bunch flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely choppedLemon wedges and salad leaves, to serve 1 Mix saffron threads and water in a heatproof bowl and set…

FRUIT SKEWERS WITH CINNAMON AND HONEY YOGHURT GF Hull 125g small strawberries, and peel and chop 1 kiwifruit. Thread the strawberries, kiwifruit, 1 cup chopped pineapple and 1 cup chopped rockmelon onto small wooden skewers. Whisk together 3 Tbsp low-fat Greek-style natural yoghurt, 1 tsp honey and a pinch of ground cinnamon. Serve yoghurt with skewers, drizzling over just before serving. Serves 2 as a snack. PER SERVE 585kJ, protein 4g, total fat 1.3g (sat. fat 0.4g), carbs 24g, fibre 6g, sodium 52mg • Carb exchanges 1½ • GI estimate low • Gluten free DATE, APRICOT AND COCONUT BALLS GF Put 100g dried pitted dates, 100g dried apricots, 50g roasted hazelnuts, skin removed, 2 Tbsp sifted cocoa powder and 1 Tbsp fresh orange juice in a small food processor. Cover…

Summertime travel is a fun break in daily routine, but it can also hijack healthy habits. These tips will help you maintain momentum toward your weight and diabetes management goals. 1 Stay close to the action. If you’re staying at a hotel, choose one that has exercise facilities. Check out the gym area as soon as you arrive so you can establish a get-moving mindset. If your hotel lacks a workout area, inquire about safe walking routes or local gyms that sell day passes. If you’re visiting friends or relatives, invite them to join you for some quality time exercising together. 2 Pack like you mean it. Tuck in your exercise gear – no excuses! Add resistance bands, which you can use almost anywhere (and see our Activity Tracker Review…

MEAT • Look for economical proteins. Your priciest buy is probably meat. Try beans and eggs instead. • Skip the deli and buy a larger cut of meat. Ask the butcher to slice it and save up to 50 per cent. • Buy frozen fish. Most fresh fish at the seafood counter has been previously frozen (it will say so in small type). Save 40 per cent and buy from the frozen section. PRODUCE • Weigh your options. That 2kg bag of potatoes probably weighs more than the packaging says. Producers are required to fill bagged produce to at least the amount listed, so you’ll likely get more for your money. Weigh it to check. • Mix it up. Combine pricier leafy greens with head lettuce, such as cos, which…

Summer is officially here and there’s no better time to get motivated, get out and get active than now. These smart activity trackers are the perfect accompaniment to your activities, to help track your everyday movements, sleeping cycle and even your calls and texts. Find out which tracker is best for you... FITBIT CHARGE 2 The low down: Tracks the same as Flex 2 (below), plus provides watch and exercise modes (identifies workouts such as running, cycling and weights) and real-time stats (to your phone) to help you maximise your workout. Charge 2 also continuously and automatically tracks your heart rate (through PurePulse) and provides guided breathing sessions based on this. Usefulness: 9/10 FITBIT FLEX 2 The low down: The first swimproof device from Fitbit, the Flex 2 is water-resistant…

People who have a history of ACEs can take matters into their own hands. Carol Redding, editor of the ACE Reporter, and John Zrebiec of the Joslin Diabetes Center have advice: 1 ASK FOR A REFERRAL. Good treatment for trauma is available. Most therapists will not be judgemental. Ask your family doctor to recommend a licensed therapist or counsellor who has a background in treating people who have experienced trauma. Contact your health insurer for names of mental health providers covered by your plan. 2 USE A HELPLINE. In Australia, call the Blue Knot Helpline on 1300 657 380 for professional short-term counselling support, referrals for ongoing support, information and more. If you are distressed, in crisis or in immediate need of support call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 3…

Islet cells are insulin-producing cells found in the pancreas. Doctors take the cells from a deceased organ donor and infuse them via the blood vessels into the liver of a recipient with type 1 diabetes. Once in the liver, the islet cells can start producing insulin, and often cure the recipient of diabetes. For the islet cells to survive, the patient needs to take powerful immunosuppressive drugs on an ongoing basis, just like any other type of transplant. At the moment it’s usual for a recipient to need two or three islet cell transplants before they become independent of insulin. This is because the cells are fragile and some are damaged by the immune system after transplantation. Ongoing medical research at the Garvan Institute continues to improve this procedure and…