1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Today I submitted a public comment to HHS asking that deceased donor islet cells be treated as organs for transplantation, not as drugs. Frankly, people with Type 1 diabetes should not have to fight this hard for something that makes so much sense. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 14 in 1983. My daughter was diagnosed at three. My family has spent decades and an astronomical amount of money keeping two people alive and healthy with insulin, pumps, continuous glucose monitors and everything else this disease requires. Islet transplantation can restore insulin-producing function, yet our regulatory system has helped keep it out of reach for most Americans. Treating deceased donor islet cells as organs could allow them to move through our existing transplant system and create a realistic path toward insurance coverage and broader access. HHS is now specifically considering that change. I submitted my comment because Congress has not gotten this done. Now I am asking you to stand up for the millions of Americans living with Type 1 diabetes and help push this forward. We don’t need another decade of managing around a solution. We need action. A CURE for T1D IS HERE!!!!