Julie Allred was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, often known as juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes, at the age of 10. At that time, in the late 1970s, treatment options were limited; she was not expected to live to 30 or have children. Julie overcame tremendous odds to make it to her thirties – and gave birth to a healthy daughter. By age 40 she was beginning to experience daily episodes of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Through a clinical trial, Julie received transplanted pancreatic islet cells, which produce insulin, in 2011 and 2012. As life threatening episodes of hypoglycemia came to an end, Julie sees life as "filled with excitement instead of fear."

Julie's Story

Julie Allred was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, often known as juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes, at the age of 10. At that time, in the late 1970s, treatment options were limited. Her parents were told that she would probably not live to be 30 years old and that she would never be able to have children.

Julie was started on insulin injections and a strict diabetic diet. She faced many challenges during those first few years, and those challenges continued throughout her teenage and young adult years. At the same time, she experienced many advances in the treatment and management of Type 1 diabetes.

Although life with diabetes was a constant balancing act, Julie celebrated her 30th birthday with tears of joy, as she had overcome tremendous odds to make it to her thirties. Even more, by then she had a beautiful, healthy four-year-old daughter.

By the time Julie turned 40 she was beginning to experience daily episodes of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Because the episodes occurred with little or no warning, she became unable to recognize or treat them without help from someone else. "I was losing control" says Julie. "Diabetes was controlling all aspects of my life and that of my family."

In February of 2011, Julie discovered a clinical trial being conducted in the US to treat Type 1 diabetes by transplanting donor islet cells, which are the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The closest participating center to Julie's North Carolina home was Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga.

She received her first islet cell transplant on July 21, 2011. "My life changed dramatically at that moment," recalled Julie, as life threatening episodes of hypoglycemia came to an end. She continued in the study and received a second islet cell transplant on Feb. 29, 2012.

Julie now enjoys spending quality time with her husband David and daughter Meredith, is active in her church and, works as a school nurse in Charlotte. She is an active volunteer at local and regional events for Donate Life, LifeShare of the Carolinas and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Julie is also a member of the 2014 Transplant Games committee for Donate Life North Carolina. She attended Government Day in Washington, D.C. as a state representative for JDRF and was named 2013 Advocate of the Year by her local JDRF chapter.

This experience has not only been life changing for Julie but for her family and friends as well. "I could never have imagined what this new life would be like," said Julie. "It is a life of freedom, a life filled with excitement instead of fear. I look forward to each new day. I enjoy life now, and all that it brings, for the first time!"