Pancreas transplant?

Question

Is it possible for a diabetic to request a pancreas transplant? Just curious if there is a waiting list and legal procedure for such a surgery for diabetics.

Answer 1

As someone who's actually been through it, I can tell you a little about it. First thing is to discuss it with youtr endocrinologist, then locate the transplant centers in your area and make appointments for evaluation. They usually do a cursory physical, take a bit of blood, speak with a social worker, meet some of the stadff involved in the procedure. You'll probably also get a list of further testing you'll need to have completed before they can finish their evaluation. Typically, though, pancreas transplants are only done on type 1 diabetics, and are done in conjunction with kidney transplants, whether simultaneously with the kidney (called SPK), or what's called PAK (Pancreas After Kidney), for those who have received kidney transplants because of their diabetes. The reasoning behind it is that the transplantd pancreas can stave off the degenerative effects of diabetes, and protect the transplanted kidney, and the patient is already going to be on the immunosuppressive medications because of the kidney transplant. Also keep in mind that this is NOT a cure for diabetes, either; it's a surgical form of treatment. The transplanted organs are still under strain of your immune system, despite the immunouppresive medications, and will eventually die off from chronic rejection. Not treally sure if there are any (or many) centers that will do just an isolated pancreas transplant, though, but it's always worth finding out about. Islet cell transplantation is also being studied, but early clinical studies have not been very promising, with only a 15% success rate of insulin independence after 5 years. And, even in the case of islet cell transplantation, patients are still required to take the immunosuppressive medications, to prevent rejection. Best of luck! Hope this helps!

Answer 2

You can ask but I don't think they will do it as it is still experimental. To me, having to take all those anti rejection drugs would outweigh any benefits from a new pancreas which might be rejected at any time - then what do you do without a pancreas?

Rejection drugs are the worst. I saw plenty of problems with them when I worked for the Kidney Foundation; you do not want to go there.

Diet and medications are a lot easier than undergoing all that stuff.

Answer 3

You can request one. You'll be turned down flat though. Diabetes is treatable with insulin or tablets & you can live a long life with it.

A pancreas transplant will last at best 10 years, during which time you'll be on drugs which wipe out your immune system.

Don't be silly, have your shots like a good boy

Answer 4

Pancreas transplants are only done when a kidney transplant is needed.

It is far too risky to be on anti-rejection drugs than it is ti use insulin .
There are studies that show that simply transplanting the islet cells may work much better.
Good question.

Answer 5

request away

it's still experimental

they have taken animals and transplanted pancreatic cells (essentially just sucking up the cells and squirting them into the new animal) and it seems to be working to some degree

Wow! Wiki says the first one was in 1966! Maybe you can. You'd have to go via the transplant board and meet the usual criteria then.

Answer 6

they do them all the time.the same motorcycle accident that got me a liver gave some one the pancress..2 yrs ago.. talk to your DR or go to nearst University hospital.

Answer 7

yes, it's more than possible.....I know someone who had one, and is doing OK.

don't know about the legal stuff, or anything else.....just wanted to let you know that yes, they are doing those transplants these days.