SDRI Spring Appeal 2018
At Sansum Diabetes Research Institute (SDRI), we have been dedicated to improving the lives of those with diabetes for almost 75 years. Your support of our mission helps us remain a global leader in diabetes research, education, and care.
When it comes to diabetes and pregnancy, SDRI set the standard.
Now, thanks to scientific and procedural advances, dreams do come true for women living with diabetes. Women like Elise Cossart-Daly, who grew up thinking that motherhood would be too dangerous. And it used to be. Before the advent of insulin in 1922, no infant of a diabetic mother survived. And even after insulin became commercially available, the outcome of pregnancies complicated by diabetes was still bleak; less than 10% of infants survived.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 2, Elise grew into a vibrant woman who enjoys a career as an attorney and married the man of her dreams. Elise and her husband, Brian, were happily surprised when she became pregnant.
“I always wanted to be a mom, but I was terrified that I would lose my pregnancy!”
Her physician, Dr. Kristin Castorino, SDRI’s specialist in Diabetes and Pregnancy, met with Elise weekly to review her blood sugars, and adjust her insulin dosage, as well as her diet, exercise routine and work schedule, with the goal of maintaining the extremely tight blood sugar control necessary throughout pregnancy.
“I would constantly check my continuous glucose monitor to see what my blood sugar was doing. Often, I’d wake up to give myself insulin 3 to 4 times a night,”
said Elise.
The Cossart-Daly family’s dream was realized with the birth of their healthy baby, Emeline, six months ago.
“I am so grateful and beholden to Dr. Castorino! I’m forever indebted to her for the emotional, intellectual and pragmatic support that she gave throughout the
process,” said Elise.
Thanks to your support, women living with diabetes can and do have safe pregnancies and healthy babies. Last year, SDRI helped deliver 145 healthy babies.
Protocols for women and pregnancy developed at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute, changed the landscape for women around the world wanting to have children whether they have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes.
“With diabetes, the expectations for good blood sugar control can feel overwhelming, but in pregnancy where the expectations are much stricter, it can feel impossible,” said Dr. Castorino. “We hope to relieve the burden for women with diabetes during pregnancy by offering the option of “cruise control” or artificial pancreas technology so that they can be freed from obsessing about blood sugar control.”
Expanding our groundbreaking studies in diabetes and pregnancy and the state-of-the-art artificial pancreas technology is imperative, especially now. We are making tremendous strides!
Women who dream of delivering healthy babies need you now. Consider making a donation to SDRI today!