Ramya (left), Dr. Bruce Verchere, Co-Director at the Centre (middle), and Dr. Benjamin Mammon, another member of the T1D Lived Experience Advisory Group (right). Photo credit: Macy Yap

Type 1 diabetes stories help shape research 

Ramya Hosak was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 19 while attending university. Since then, she has been a devoted volunteer, helping others navigate the challenges of T1D and the steep learning curve that accompanies a life-altering diagnosis. 

As co-chair of the T1D Lived Experience Advisory Group at the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at the University of British Columbia (UBC), her perspective helps guide the Centre’s research and connect the T1D community with the researchers advancing cures. Her voice is just one of many representing a diverse group of faces and stories, working with researchers to drive innovative therapies.  

Ramya’s passion is nonprofit work, specifically in social justice, community development, and equal access to healthcare. To better unite the T1D community in BC, she co-founded Young and T1, a local support group that helps young adults with T1D through the transition to adulthood. 

We asked Ramya to share the reasons behind her incredible volunteering and what T1D research means to her. 

Breakthrough T1D Canada: Can you tell us about your T1D diagnosis? 

Ramya: I was diagnosed in my second year of university. Super tired and barely able to keep my eyes open in the lecture hall, I was constantly chastising myself. “Don’t be a wimp, everyone else is struggling with midterms and finals, get it together and toughen up, Ramya,” I thought to myself as I chugged a litre of juice. 

But I kept getting weaker. Eventually, my parents dragged me to the hospital, practically carrying me to the ER. That’s when I found out, at 19 years old, that T1D can occur at any age, not just in childhood. Initially, I was relieved at the diagnosis that explained my recent exhaustion. Yet as time went on, questions arose that couldn’t be answered by medical professionals who hadn’t been in my position. My parents and friends assumed that as a responsible adult, I had things under control and was fine. 

But I wasn’t fine. I went from being a student who enjoyed an active social life, going out with my friends without a second thought, to suddenly having to be so careful. I felt a need to act like everything was fine and hide the toll that the invisible full-time job of T1D was having on me, mentally and emotionally.  

I stopped reaching out to my friends for fear of being seen as a complainer and not having a positive attitude. I went through a period of extreme depression, feeling like no one “got me.” But after graduating from university, I started getting better and began meeting others my age with T1D.  

Breakthrough T1D Canada: What drew you to participate in the Centre’s T1D Lived Experience Advisory Group? 

Ramya:  My undergraduate degree was in Health Sciences, and research has always held an interest for me, particularly as my mom is a cancer researcher. I’ve grown up hearing about her excitement, disappointments, and long days/nights that come along with being a researcher. I respect this work immensely, and to be able to work with researchers who are working so hard to find a cure for diabetes and bridge the gap for those living with T1D has always been very important to me. Similarly, I love the questions researchers ask me about living with T1D and helping them to understand why their hard work truly matters.  

Photo credit: Macy Yap

Breakthrough T1D Canada: How do you feel about the cure research happening at the Centre? 

Ramya:  Excited! Not just for me, but for the future generation! I truly believe a cure is in sight, and having had my first child recently (September 2025), the potential to eliminate T1D in the generations to come is such a wonderful thought.  

Breakthrough T1D Canada: What research excites you most? 

Ramya:  I find Dr. Megan Levings’ work on immune system regulation as it relates to T1D particularly interesting. I work at the Kidney Foundation of Canada and have seen her work in the transplant field come up as well. It’s exciting to see research in immunology having the potential to lead to additional breakthroughs in other health-related issues. 

Breakthrough T1D Canada: What are your hopes for the future of diabetes? 

Ramya:  My hope is that within the next generation, T1D markers can be identified in at-risk patients before disease onset or at early onset, and the correct therapies can indefinitely prevent it from fully taking place (by preserving remaining beta cell function, etc.).

“The real glory would be never having to carb-count, constantly be checking my blood levels and worrying about how every variable of life impacts my glucose numbers and therefore how I feel physically and emotionally throughout the day with this 24/7 invisible job. So much mental space would be freed up.”

Ramya with her husband, Mark, who also lives with T1D (diagnosed at age 10), and their newborn daughter. 

Breakthrough T1D Canada: What prompted you to launch Young and T1? 

Ramya: Upon diagnosis, I started volunteering for Breakthrough T1D (then JDRF), and when working with youth ambassadors, it was so amazing to hear kids meet other kids who shared the same diagnosis. They told stories of bullying at school when their pumps were seen as strange, compared pump colours with each other, and it was just so normal. 

I really wanted a community that “got” what living with T1D in adulthood felt like. T1D gets lonely. I hear this a lot. Young people at this transition stage often feel uncomfortable speaking with their doctor or parents about complex issues that arise for an adult with T1D. Thirteen years ago, I did not realize what an awesome resource Young and T1 would be—for myself and now over 700 individuals in BC—for learning and sharing with one another.  

Through meeting folks with similar daily struggles, and living with my husband Mark, who also has T1D, I have learned that all bodies are different. One size does not fit all in T1D management, and getting as much information available to us as possible is important. By conveying our struggles and successes with one another, we all benefit from shared knowledge. 

— 

Breakthrough T1D Canada is grateful to Ramya for sharing her story and helping our researchers accelerate breakthroughs. Knowledge sharing is critically important not just among the T1D community but also among the researchers who will one day bring cures to the community.  

Breakthrough T1D oversees T1D research worldwide to ensure that teams are collaborating and sharing learnings. The Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC is a prime example of that collaboration in action, with over 40 multidisciplinary researchers working together to tackle all angles of cure research.  

The Centre is a key pillar of our $100M Campaign to Accelerate, a national campaign with a global impact. Read about research highlights from year 4 of the Centre’s three interconnected research themes advancing cures here. 

Philanthropic donors are advancing promising cure research in BC and around the world. To learn more about these exciting projects or to make a leadership gift, please contact: 

Kim Lacombe, Chief Development Officer 

On January 6^th, 2026, Encellin (California, Quebec) reported positive interim results of its Phase 1 clinical trial of encapsulated islets in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), which is being carried out in Toronto and Montreal.

Trial Details:
In Encellin’s trial, cadaveric human donor islets are being encapsulated in Encellin’s Encapsulated Cell Replacement Therapy (ENCRT) device and implanted into adults with T1D. This first-in-human trial is assessing (1) safety and adverse events, (2) cell survival within the device, and (3) fibrosis, or scarring, around the implants. 

Interim Results:
As planned, ENCRT devices were removed from the initial five participants after 4 months of implantation. Analysis of the removed devices show:

• minimal to no fibrosis (formation of scar tissue around the device);
• robust formation of blood vessels around the device;
• viable islets inside the device.

These results indicate that the device has the potential to host islet cells while maintaining sufficient oxygen and nutrient flow for the cells to work effectively.

Historically, macroencapsulation devices (which act like a teabag to enclose the islet cells) have had limited success due to high levels of fibrosis that prevents cell survival, reduces the ability of the cells to access oxygen and nutrients, and limits the release of insulin. The preliminary finding that fibrosis is not occurring with Encellin’s device is therefore a critical step toward overcoming the barrier of fibrosis with islet encapsulation devices and advancing the development and delivery of cell-based therapies for people with T1D.

We will continue to report updated results as they become available.

Breakthrough T1D’s Role:
Encellin’s technology was originally developed within the Lab of Dr. Tejal Desai (University of California San Francisco) with funding from Breakthrough T1D, which was crucial in the formation of Encellin as a company and attracting subsequent venture capital.

While we look forward to the year ahead, we want to also reflect on 2025 and the breakthroughs we saw, in type 1 diabetes (T1D) research, advocacy, community engagement, and more.  We were also able to host successful events and community initiatives across the country.

Our first full year as Breakthrough T1D Canada was one of impact. And while we may have a new name, our mission and commitment to the T1D community didn’t change; it was only strengthened.

Our incredible community of donors, volunteers, and supporters are the heart and soul of everything we do, and thanks to them it was a transformative year. We committed substantive funding to research, further developed partnerships in academia with new fellowships and grants, continued to support newly-diagnosed people, and our adult T1D community, reinforcing our commitment to being a source of trusted information and support to all Canadians affected by T1D, at any age and any stage of their journey with this chronic disease.

Curing T1D is and remains our north star, while we work to improve the lives today of the estimated 300,000 Canadians with T1D until we have a world free from type 1 diabetes.

Just a few highlights of 2025 included: 

• Recognizing the urgent need to reduce hurdles to access type 1 diabetes cell therapies in Canada
• Surpassing 90% of our $100 Million Campaign to Accelerate  goal thanks to donor-enabled initiatives like John Cammett’s 4X Match challenge, generous donors, and dedicated campaign volunteers and long-time supporters making a profound impact on research and advocacy
• The announcement of a transformational investment in cure research by the Canucks For Kids Fund which saw the renaming of the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC.
• Supporting two unique fundraising events, Coast to Coast for Cures and Humour Me
• Launched ‘Beyond the Numbers’, a compelling video series that features real stories about mental health challenges and T1D

• Seeing improvements in device access in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan, while continuing to advocate to other provincial and federal governments for increased support
• Representation at the Children’s Congress in Washington, DC where our delegate was part of the launch of the first-ever Barbie with type 1 diabetes
• Continuing to celebrate our incredible volunteers with our Volunteer Awards
• Hosting successful Breakthrough T1D Walks and Breakthrough T1D Rides in communities across Canada
• Reaching thousands of Canadians impacted by T1D through our Breakthrough T1D Education Series, bringing experts into their homes to discuss topics important to them.
• Continued support to newly diagnosed families and adults through our Bag of Hope and care kit programs 
• Providing connection and support through our Breakthrough T1D Connection series, community events and peer support programs.

T1D research highlights 

In cell therapies: 

• Breakthrough T1D Canada and Stem Cell Network announced the fourth recipient of the J. Andrew McKee Fellowship in Type 1 Diabetes
• Thanks to donors to the $100M Campaign to Accelerate, the Breakthrough T1D Canucks For Kids Fund Centre of Excellence at UBC marks four years of innovation
• Four new grants from the Breakthrough T1D – SCN Partnership to accelerate cures
• Continuing a successful partnership with the Canadian Islet Research and Training Network (CIRTN) and announced a third cohort of co-funded trainees
• Vertex FORWARD trial of Zimislecel (previously called VX-880) is currently the most advanced stem cell-derived islet replacement trial. Of the 12 individuals that have reached the one-year mark post-transplant, all have resolved severe hypoglycemic events, reduced HbA1c to 7% or less, and 10 of 12 are off insulin

In disease-modifying therapies: 

• Interim results presented from Sanofi’s PETITE-T1D trial demonstrated acceptable safety of Tzield in kids aged 0-7 with early-stage T1D
• SAB BIO presented compelling data about humanized anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), which holds promise to delay the onset and progression of T1D

Improving lives research and mental health supports

• Supported Canadian research that’s developing a wearable continuous ketone monitor.
• Funding programs devoted to improving mental health care and outcomes for people with T1D.
• Reported on the outcomes of our Mental Health Community Grants
• Breakthrough-T1D funded adjunct therapy trial of dapagliflozin (SGLT2i) for teens with T1D

In screening: 

• Continued work by CanScreen T1D, a Canadian T1D screening research consortium led by Dr. Diane Wherrett.  
• Breakthrough T1D continues to help facilitate screening for relatives of those with T1D across Canada via TrialNet.

For a listing of currently recruiting clinical trials, please visit clinicaltrials.breakthroughT1D.ca

To read more about research updates and stories of people living with T1D, please visit www.breakthrought1d.ca/blog. 

As we head into 2026, we pause and reflect on how truly grateful we are for the support of our donors, volunteers and the commitment of the T1D community. We’re very excited to approach this new year with renewed vigour, working to build on these breakthroughs and continuing to push our mission forward.  

And thanks to your generosity, cures have never been closer. 

In recent years, rapid technological innovations related to diabetes devices like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors have significantly helped many people manage their T1D. An exciting new development is underway into continuous ketone monitors (CKM), and Breakthrough T1D is both funding research in this area and shaping recommendations for how they could be used.

On December 9th, a publication on consensus recommendations for the use of CKMs – led by Breakthrough T1D International’s Medical Affairs team – was published in The Lancet. These recommendations and further research and development of these monitors will soon give those with T1D another valuable tool to manage the condition.

What are ketones?

Ketones are organic compounds (acids) that the body makes as a by-product of using fat instead of glucose for energy. This process is called ketosis. A small number of ketones in the body is not concerning, but if they start to build up it can be life threatening. In people with T1D, this may happen because of too little insulin, illness like the flu, prolonged fasting, dehydration or the use of some medications (namely SGLT2 inhibitors). In T1D, a build up of ketones can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). 

Learn more about ketones and DKA

Why monitor ketones?

People living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are familiar with ketones and the risk they present to their health, but monitoring for ketones is burdensome and infrequent for many.

Currently, people with diabetes use blood and/or urine strips to test for ketones; however, surveys show that few individuals use them routinely. Given the current options, it remains very difficult to predict when ketone levels may be rising, and people lose opportunities to intervene early to prevent DKA altogether and could therefore benefit from more routine monitoring.

Similar to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), CKMs will continuously measure ketone levels in the body and can alert users if their ketone levels are rising. This ability to track ketone levels in real-time could have substantial benefits in preventing DKA—and more. Continuous ketone monitoring (CKM) is on the horizon, but recommendations for use of these devices is lacking.

Potential benefits of CKM for people with T1D 

• Early detection of rising ketones to prevent DKA 
• Identification of elevated ketones due to infusion set failures that would prevent pumps from dosing insulin 
• Valuable addition to automated insulin delivery (AID) systems for comprehensive monitoring of blood glucose and ketones 
• Management of early-stage T1D—before insulin therapy is needed—to monitor disease progression  

Recommendations for use of CKM

CKMs have the potential to transform T1D care by stopping dangerous, life-threatening DKA before it ever occurs. It is critically important that healthcare professionals (HCPs) and people living with T1D know how to most effectively use this technology to maximize its benefits.  

That’s why Breakthrough T1D International, led by their Chief Medical Officer Thomas Danne, convened a panel of experts to agree on recommendations for how this technology could be used to improve outcomes for individuals at risk for developing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). 

The recommendations from the expert panel are: 

• CKMs could include trend arrows, akin to those on a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), and reflect rates of change of around 0.4 mmol/L per hour. 
• To avoid potential alarm fatigue, CKM devices should have optional individual alarms and be used at the discretion of the user and their health-care professional 
• It is recommended that an audible or vibrating alarm should be put in place to notify continuous ketone monitoring users if their ketone concentrations rise above the urgent high threshold of ≥3·0 mmol/L. 
• The terminology for ketone levels should be: Normal, Elevated, High, Urgent High. 
• All CKM users should be provided with a blood ketone metre to use if they are experiencing the symptoms of high or urgent high ketones, and they do not match the CKM reading.  
• All individuals who wear a CKM should receive education on what elevated ketones mean and what actions to take.  

Why might this matter to you?

There are currently no continuous ketone monitors available on the market, but Breakthrough T1D is actively funding work in Canada and globally to make these a reality. Both academic groups and early-stage companies are working on CKM devices. Further down the pipeline is Abbott’s dual glucose-ketone sensor (CGM-CKM), which is currently in development. Including in Canada with Dr. Mahla Poudineh (University of Waterloo), in collaboration with Dr. Leyla Soleymani (McMaster University) who are also working on developing a wearable CKM.

Breakthrough T1D’s work in this area – funding research and developing recommendations for CKM use is crucial as they will be a reality soon and both healthcare providers, people with T1D and their caregivers will need standards on how to use these devices to be able to take action before DKA occurs.  

Breakthrough T1D Canada will keep the community up to date on the progress of CKM development. For clinical trials that may be testing these devices and others, visit clinicaltrials.breakthroughT1D.ca

In addition to funding research, a key component of Breakthrough T1D’s research strategy is the promotion and knowledge translation of clinical trials. Here we report on recent results from international trials relevant to our type 1 diabetes (T1D) community.

To see if there is actively recruiting research that you can be part of, see our T1D Clinical Trial Finder.

Cell Therapy: Tegoprubart trial
Current islet transplantation (from cadaveric donor islets in clinical practice to stem cell derived islets in clinical trials) require immunosuppression to protect the islets from the recipients’ immune system. Dr. Piotr Witkowski (University of Chicago) is investigating the use of tegoprubart as a less toxic alternative to commonly used tacrolimus for people with T1D receiving cadaveric donor islet transplants.

Tegoprubart (AT-1501) is an anti-CD40L antibody owned by Eledon Pharmaceuticals and has shown promising safety and efficacy data for kidney transplants.

In the ongoing islet replacement trial, preliminary data on the first six subjects show that tegoprubart is able to protect the transplanted cadaveric donor islet cells. All six transplanted subjects demonstrated marked improvements in glycemic control, achieving and maintaining insulin independence after one or two islet transplants.

Tegoprubart was generally well tolerated, with no reported serious adverse events and no signs of the kidney or neurological toxicity often observed with traditional immunosuppression.

This clinical trial is partly funded by Breakthrough T1D International and Eledon Pharmaceuticals is funded by the Breakthrough T1D Fund.

Disease-modifying therapy: PETITE-T1D
Disease-modifying therapies address the underlying cause of T1D, meaning that they protect beta cells, stop the autoimmune attack, or both.

Sanofi’s PETITE-T1D trial is testing the efficacy and safety of Tzield in kids aged 0-7 with early-stage T1D.  Tzield is currently approved by Health Canada for children and adults aged eight and older with stage 2 T1D, in whom it can delay the onset of stage 3 T1D by a median of 3 years.

Interim results from PETITE-T1D show that the safety profile of Tzield in children under the age of 8 is similar to that of older individuals who receive the drug. This study is ongoing, and we look forward to seeing efficacy data (how well it is reducing the autoimmune attack) in 2026.

Disease-modifying therapy: TrialNet Abatacept Prevention Study
New analysis from TrialNet on abatacept’s impact on type 1 diabetes progression suggest that further investigation may be warranted.

Abatacept (brand name Orencia®) is a prescription biologic medication that is used to treat certain autoimmune diseases. It works by blocking the activation of T-cells, a type of immune cell that causes inflammation,

The Abatacept Prevention Study first opened in 2013 and enrolled 212 people between the ages of 6 and 45. All participants had at least one relative with T1D and were identified as being Stage 1 T1D (which means they had two or more diabetes-related autoantibodies but normal glucose tolerance).

The initial study analysis found that while abatacept impacted immune response and preserved insulin production during the one-year treatment period, it did not meet the study goal of delaying progression to abnormal glucose tolerance (stage 2 T1D) or clinical diagnosis of T1D (stage 3 T1D). The group treated with abatacept maintained beta cell function better than the placebo group at 12 months. In addition, known effects of abatacept were detected on immune cells. However, 12 months after treatment ended, beta cell function was the same for both groups and effects on immune cells had reversed. The early effect was not sustained.

In a re-analysis of the data, it was found that the participants who were secreting the most insulin at the start of the trial had the most benefit from Abatacept. This is the first indication that an immune intervention in stage 1 T1D may delay disease progression in a subset of individuals. As studies into disease-modifying therapies sig deeper into why certain people respond better than others, it is becoming clear that a precision medicine approach will be needed to get people the most beneficial therapy possible.

Kidney complications: Finerenone
In November 2025 Bayer shared data from the international phase 3 clinical trial (FINE-ONE) which included participating sites across Canada. These results showed that finerenone (Kerendia™/Firialta™) significantly reduces urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, a measure of kidney damage, in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with T1D.

In CKD, the hormone aldolsterone is overactive, leading to kidney damage. Finerenone blocks this hormone’s activity to protect the kidneys from further damage. Finerenone has already been approved for the treatment of CKD in type 2 diabetes.

Finerenone was well-tolerated, with no new safety issues reported and few serious adverse events. Based on these results, Bayer intends to submit the data for regulatory review, with the goal of expanding finerenone’s indication to include treatment of CKD in people living with T1D.

CKD is one of the most common complications of T1D. Nearly a third of people living with T1D will develop CKD, increasing the risk of both kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.

Finerenone is the first therapy in three decades to achieve positive outcomes for CKD in people with T1D.

Breakthrough T1D strategically collaborated with Bayer to support the FINE-ONE clinical trial.

Devices in Pregnancy: CIRCUIT Trial
To assess the efficacy of a closed-loop system in pregnancy, a randomized clinical trial in Canada and Australia, enrolled pregnant women with T1D before 14 weeks’ gestation, with follow-up until 6 weeks postpartum.

They analyzed 88 participants who were randomly assigned by 16 weeks’ gestation to closed-loop therapy or standard care. The standard care group continued their pre-randomization insulin delivery method (multiple daily injections or insulin pump), and all participants used continuous glucose monitoring throughout the study.

The mean percentage of time in the pregnancy-specific glucose range was significantly higher in the closed-loop group (65.4% TIR) than in the standard care group (50.3% TIR); the adjusted mean glucose level was also lower in the closed-loop group than in the standard care group.

The findings support the use of closed-loop systems in pregnancy with T1D.

***

Breakthrough T1D Canada will continue to monitor the results of these trials and share more updates as they become available.

It feels like it happens every year, the months go by in a flash and before you know it, the holiday season is upon us. And now it’s time to find that perfect gift for those closest to you.

Breakthrough T1D is here to take some of the stress out of gift-giving and we’ve put together a holiday gift guide with some creative and fun ideas that can not only work for people living with T1D, but others on your list, whether they are family, friends, or colleagues. Knowing that the most treasured present is the one that comes from the heart.

Everyone loves being cozy

Sweaters, fuzzy blankets, tuques, scarves and mittens – these are simply Canadian essentials, and there is no shortage of styles, patterns and colours you can choose from.

Find some inspiration at a place like Simon’s, a Canadian store that has both household items and clothing, and that delivers across the country.

Or with enough time and energy, you could crochet a scarf or hat. You could even treat yourself to a crochet kit for a beginner, making it a gift to yourself too!

And keeping feet warm and comfortable can be even more important for people with T1D. Compression socks, and anti-fatigue mats can help with fatigue and aching in the calves and feet.

Consider non-skid, seamless and moisture-wicking socks, and pair them with a fun pair of cozy slippers (make sure they’ve got a solid and padded sole and a closed toe and back to prevent slipping). There’s nothing worse than waking up to cold floors on unprotected feet.

A fancy medic-alert bracelet

It’s advised that people with T1D wear a medic alert bracelet. And you may remember the more utilitarian style from your childhood. But did you know they come in a variety of styles, including necklaces and additions for a smartwatch band?

You can find the entire collection here: https://www.medicalert.ca/products

Keeping skin soft and supple all winter

The winter cold makes skin dry, cracked and uncomfortable. This can be especially challenging for people living with T1D. Well-moisturized skin also helps with glucose monitoring. Consider stuffing the stocking of your loved one with T1D with luxurious and rich moisturizers. Look for ones that contain urea.

Gifts to stimulate your brain

It’s easy to want to ‘couch rot’ when the days get short, cold and dark. And there is nothing wrong with a day or two doing very little. But why not also consider gifts that challenge the mind. Trivia games, sudoku, 10,000-piece puzzles, or even just old-fashioned books are gifts that can help keep the mind stimulated during that period between Christmas and New Year’s when it’s hard to remember what day or time it is!

Fun and creative insulin pump and CGM stickers
Started by a Canadian diagnosed with T1D when she was 33 years old and someone who loved colourful designs and stylish jewelry, Edda decided to create her own line when she found there were limited options in Canada.

In addition to a range of beautiful insulin covers and CGM stickers, Pimp My Diabetes also offers stylish diabetes bags and jewelry. And they have a full range of clothing and apparel options for both people who have T1D and their loved ones.

Check out the full range of items here: https://pimpmydiabetes.com/

(*Please note that Breakthrough T1D receives no funding from any of the suggested links, they are just to help you get started)

Gve the gift of breakthroughs

Maybe you don’t know what to give a colleague, or that one friend who’s really hard to shop for.

Supporting a charity, including Breakthrough T1D Canada will help you to feel good while doing good. And a donation not only helps today but can create a lasting legacy. Your support can help Breakthrough T1D in our mission of making every day life better for the close to 300,000 Canadians living with T1D, while we drive towards cures.

And if you donate today, your gift will be matched 2x up to December 31, 2025, allowing you to double your impact, and receive a final tax receipt before the end of year.

And here’s our gift to you! 

Please also accept our gift to you – an electronic holiday card that you can fill in with your own message and use to help raise awareness of type 1 diabetes in Canada.

Download by clicking on the card

No matter how stressful or busy the holiday season gets, always remember that you can’t go wrong with a gift given with genuine consideration and thought.

***

From everyone here at Breakthrough T1D, please accept our sincerest wishes for a happy, restful and restorative holiday season, and all the best for the coming new year.

In young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), nearly all insulin-producing cells are destroyed before they can mature, helping explain why the progression of T1D is more aggressive in early childhood.

The study, published in Science Advances, ahead of World Diabetes Day, was funded by the UK Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge– a partnership between Breakthrough T1D UK, the Steve Morgan Foundation, and Diabetes UK. This important finding provides valuable information into the wide range of T1D progression and highlights the need for universal T1D screening and early-stage immunotherapies in young children at risk of developing T1D.

T1D is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. In young children T1D often progresses more rapidly, increasing the likelihood of medical emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis and requiring higher doses of insulin than those diagnosed at an older age.

Until now, scientists had limited tools to study the early development of insulin-producing beta cells. Beta cells are found in ‘clusters’ called islets of Langerhans, or islets, in the pancreas. To date, the majority of cell biology research has focused on the medium-large islets, particularly because small islets are often lost during the isolation process to study individual cells. In young children, approximately under the age of 7, the majority of islets are small and still forming and only contain a few insulin-producing beta cells.

The new study, led by Dr. Sarah Richardson, Associate Professor in Cellular Biomedicine at the University of Exeter in the UK, used cutting-edge scientific techniques to study these small clusters in unprecedented detail. The team analysed rare pancreas samples from more than 250 people of varying ages, both with and without T1D. The samples were accessed from numerous global biobanks including the Breakthrough T1D-funded Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD). They looked at how these clusters change as we age and how they are affected by the immune system.

The findings confirm most rapid development of islet cells occur in the first few years of life.

For the first time, the researchers showed that in people with type 1 diabetes, these small clusters (pre-cursors to islets) are almost completely absent, having been destroyed by the immune system. While some people with T1D retained a few large clusters, allowing them to produce small amounts of insulin, this was not the case for those diagnosed at a young age.

Together, the results suggest that the abundant small clusters found in young children are especially vulnerable to the type 1 diabetes immune attack. Their rapid destruction prevents them from maturing, leaving very few insulin-producing cells later in life, while more mature islets in adults are somewhat more resistant to the autoimmune attack and the onset of T1D in adulthood may preserve minor insulin-producing capability.

This research underscores the critical role of these small clusters in healthy pancreas development and opens the door for new treatments to protect children’s clusters of insulin-producing cells, giving them the chance to mature into islets that are less vulnerable to the immune attack. It also strengthens the case that  type 1 diabetes screening – particularly in young children is essential for identifying those in the early stages of type 1 diabetes before these crucial cells are lost, (when accompanied by early-stage immunotherapy interventions to prevent the loss of immature islet clusters.)

Breakthrough T1D Canada currently has a $12 million grant co-funded through the Breakthrough T1D-CIHR Partnership to Defeat Diabetes that is funding CanScreen T1D –   a single nationally coordinated research network that explores key research questions about the feasibility and acceptability of general population T1D screening in Canada.

Results from this research could help to inform immunotherapies for individuals in early-stage T1D to preserve islet mass and insulin-producing capability.

May 25, 2020

We are sharing information that addresses some of the top concerns of the T1D community. Note these responses are not intended to be medical advice, for that—as always—you must consult your own healthcare team.

The declining numbers of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across Canada are positive news. But as provinces begin to release guidance as to how schools, workplaces, and public spaces can reopen, many people may be feeling anxious. People living with T1D and their families may have extra factors to juggle when making decisions and planning for return to work or school.

Each province or territory is outlining public health guidance on practices such as social distancing, and a locally relevant approach for returning to schools, workplaces, and public spaces. Familiarize yourself with guidance from your provincial or territorial health authority, and keep up to date on changes.

Regardless of where you live, maintaining practices of social distancing and good hygiene will continue to be crucial to minimize exposure for ourselves and those around us, as restrictions are loosened. Universal practice of these measures will help to minimize risk of infection and mean we continue to “flatten the curve”. In these early phases of loosening restrictions, everyone should continue to practice:

• Frequent handwashing or, when in public places, frequent use of hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol base
• Avoid touching face, mouth, nose and eyes
• Minimizing trips to grocery stores and other locations visited by a high volume of people
• Maintaining a 2m (6 foot) distance from others when you do need to leave home
• Wearing a face covering when physical distancing is not possible (e.g. when shopping, on public transit, etc). A non-medical face covering will not protect you from COVID-19, but it can protect others by reducing the spread of droplets from the wearer. For more information on non-medical face coverings, see Health Canada guidance.
• Adhering strictly to local guidance on joining social gatherings with others, and applying the above practices during social gatherings wherever possible.
• Staying home for a minimum of 10 days if you have cold or flu symptoms.
• Familiarizing yourself with local COVID-19 testing practices and get tested if you are eligible – testing capacity in Canada is expanding, which is crucial for tracking cases and preventing spread during early phases of re-opening.

Will it be business as usual when we return to school or work right now?

As they prepare to reopen, schools and workplaces are putting safety procedures in place to minimize risk of exposure to the coronavirus. These can include:

• measures to ensure social distancing in classrooms or workplaces
• policies around how to interact with others
• cleaning procedures
• in some cases, provision and use of personal protective equipment

Reaching out to your school or employer to understand exactly what practices are being implemented may help to make decisions about and prepare for your return.

Is it safe to return to work or school with T1D?

Even with safety procedures in place, returning to work or school may mean an increase in risk of exposure at this time. It’s important to understand what the risks of COVID-19 are for people with T1D in planning to return.

Evidence thus far indicates that children and adults less than 65 years old with well-controlled T1D and without other health conditions are not at greater risk of getting COVID-19 and do not necessarily have worse outcomes of COVID-19 than their peers without T1D. Thus, T1D itself may not be a medical reason to delay return to work or school.

Recent data from the UK indicates that older age, high HbA1c (e.g. >10%), and obesity (BMI>30) put people with T1D at increased risk of death from COVID-19. Although similar data are not yet available from Canada, this new information indicates that older people with T1D, and those who live with them, should take every possible precaution to reduce their risk of exposure.Each person with T1D is different and if you are concerned about your health status and have questions about your own situation, seek guidance from your healthcare team. Factors that may mean a person with T1D is at higher risk of the consequences of COVID-19 include:

• Age 65 or older
• High HbA1c (>10%)
• BMI >30
• Complications or other conditions that have been associated with poor outcomes of COVID-19, including heart disease, hypertension, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer
• Immune compromised status due to medical treatment, such as immunosuppressive drugs (for example after a kidney or islet transplant), chemotherapy, or a medical condition (note that T1D itself does not cause immune suppression)

If one or more of the above applies to you or someone you live with, and your school, workplace, or commute does not allow you to practice all of the social distancing practices recommended, consider delaying returning to work or school for a period of time – if you can. It’s best to discuss your individualized plan with your healthcare team and your school or employer.

If going back to school or work, is there anything we should do differently?

• In the short-term, if you can work or attend school effectively from home, you may choose to continue doing so while safety procedures are being established.
• If you physically return to work or school, ensure to practice all of the recommended safety measures at all times to minimize risk of COVID-19 to yourself and others. This is also important to remember during break times such as recess.
• If you usually take public transit, consider adapting your commute to minimize social contacts – for example by driving, travelling at low-peak times, or walking or cycling if possible.
• Avoid bringing items to school that would be quickly shared with other children, such as stationery (pencils/pens), books, or toys.
• If your child has T1D and is returning to school, add a good supply of disinfectant wipes, gloves and face coverings (ideally well-fitting medical masks for adults and children, if you can obtain them) to their T1D supplies kit and communicate with teaching and support staff in advance. This means that if your child needs physical assistance at school, the person assisting them will have quick access to protective equipment. More information on diabetes at school can be found here.
• If you have T1D and are returning to work, bring your own disinfectant wipes, gloves and face coverings (ideally well-fitting medical masks, if you can obtain them) along with your usual T1D supplies, and communicate with your employer in advance. This means that if you need physical assistance while at work, the person assisting you will have quick access to protective equipment. In communicating with your child’s school, or your employer, take the opportunity remind them about the life-saving potential of glucagon in the event of severe hypoglycemia.

If a person has had COVID-19, are they immune to getting it again?

Because the coronavirus is new, researchers cannot say for certain that an initial infection guarantees lasting protection. But based on the experience with other viruses, including other coronaviruses, they expect that people who recover will be shielded for perhaps at least a year or two, and from there the immunity might start to wane (but not disappear). Evidence suggests they would also be less likely to pass the virus on to others.

How long will it take to develop a vaccine for COVID-19?

A vaccine for COVID-19 is still many months away, and restrictions are being loosened at this time in Canada without availability of a vaccine. However, intensive research into prevention and treatment of COVID-19 is ongoing around the world, with many trials being led here in Canada.

If you have additional concerns not addressed here, write to us at T1Dquestions@JDRF.ca  or check out breakthrought1d.ca/coronavirus for more information.