After a pancreas transplant, up to 90% of diabetes patients no longer require insulin therapy or routine blood glucose checks.
- Up to 90% of diabetic patients who underwent a pancreas transplantation no longer need insulin therapy or frequent glucose monitoring
- This surgery can help patients control their blood sugar levels more effectively
What is Pancreas Transplant
In a procedure known as a pancreas transplant, the patient’s natural pancreas is left in place and a healthy donor pancreas is given to them. Successful pancreas transplant recipients no longer require insulin and maintain stable blood sugar levels. The trade-off is that patients must have major surgery and take immune system-suppressing drugs for the rest of their lives.Benefits of Pancreas Transplant
A successful pancreas transplant can help patients control their blood sugar levels more effectively than any other type of diabetes treatment available today. The absence of a primary referral source and widespread acceptance by the diabetic care community, the lack of consensus criteria, problems with access, education, and resources within the transplant community, and other factors have led to a decrease in the number of transplants.“More patients with diabetes who are failing insulin therapy or experiencing progressive diabetic complications regardless of diabetes type should be considered for a pancreas transplant,” Fridell said. “All patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease should undergo consideration for combined kidney and pancreas transplantation independent of geography or location.”
Source-Medindia