Ep 155 - 3 Months Post Islet Cell Transplant for Type 1 Diabetes: Katie Beth Hand's Story

Ep 155 - 3 Months Post Islet Cell Transplant for Type 1 Diabetes: Katie Beth Hand's Story

From Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges by Melissa Slemp

April 27, 2026 · 60 min · Season 3 · Episode 155

About this episode

Katie Beth Hand shares her experience three months post-islet cell transplant for Type 1 diabetes, discussing the physical, mental, and emotional changes she has undergone.

What does life actually feel like 3 months after an islet cell transplant for Type 1 diabetes? In this episode, I'm joined by Katie Beth Hand for an honest and hope-filled update on what life has looked like since receiving her islet cell transplant as part of a clinical trial for Type 1 diabetes. Katie Beth was diagnosed with Type 1 in 2013 and is now 3 months post-transplant, sharing what this experience has been like physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We talk about what it's like to be off insulin, how her daily decisions around food and exercise have changed, and why one of the biggest gifts has been freedom from the constant fear of lows. We also talk about: what made her say yes to this clinical trial how the transplant process worked what the medication Tegoprubart (Tego) is doing to help protect the islet cells what life looks like now without basal insulin or mealtime insulin how food, movement, and blood sugar feel different now what she's noticed around monthly cycles, hormones, and insulin resistance why the Islet Act matters for the future of Type 1 diabetes research and why this moment feels so hopeful for the T1D community This conversation is such…

People in this episode

Host: Melissa Slemp

Guest: Katie Beth Hand

Topics covered

  • islet cell transplant
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • clinical trial
  • hormones
  • insulin
  • hope
  • health

Keywords

  • islet cell transplant
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • insulin
  • hormones
  • Tegoprubart
  • clinical trial
  • freedom from lows
  • health update

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Tegoprubart

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