One of the most common questions people ask when diagnosing type 1 diabetes is, “Can I get a pancreatic transplant?”
This question is often very complicated and historically speaking, pancreatic transplantation is not recommended as the first course of treatment for type 1 diabetes for many reasons.
This article explains exactly what a pancreatic transplant is, what the impact is, and highlights the stories of several people who performed this surgery, and explores life today.
What is a pancreatic transplant?
Like other organ transplant surgeries, pancreatic transplantation is a procedure in which recipients without pancreas (like those with type 1 diabetes) receive donated pancreas from the deceased.
The pancreas is a small organ located behind the lower part of the stomach. One of its core functions is insulin production. This helps regulate blood sugar and the absorption of glucose into cells.
Most pancreatic transplants are performed in patients with type 1 diabetes, but are not recommended unless the patient suffers from severe complications of diabetes (such as kidney disease requiring transplantation) due to serious health side effects that major organ transplants may cause.
Why is a pancreatic transplant?
The majority of patients undergoing pancreatic transplants are those who are aware of severe hypoglycemia. In fact, 93% of patients have T1D.
In addition:
- Despite advanced patient education and self-care, people with diabetes whose blood sugar levels are not controlled by standard care may be candidates for transplants
- Patients with severe renal disease should consider a combination kidney and pancreas transplantation, as most people with type 1 diabetes who receive only kidney transplants will show evidence of kidney damage within two years.
- Finally, some patients with type 2 diabetes are eligible, but only if the diabetes is severe, they will have normal weight, no endogenous insulin production, and low periphery resistance to insulin
What are the risks of the procedure?
Having a pancreatic transplant is considered a major surgery and is at risk of serious complications such as:
- Clot
- bleeding
- infection
- Urinary tract infection
- Hyperglycemia
- Donated pancreatic failure
- Rejection of donated pancreas
Does a pancreatic transplant cure diabetes?
By definition, if you have undergone a pancreatic transplant, you will no longer have clinical symptoms of diabetes and no longer need to inject insulin.
However, there are many side effects of receiving a major organ transplant.
With any organ transplant, it is important to minimize the risk of rejecting donated organs. In the case of pancreatic transplants for type 1 diabetes, there are two driving forces that increase the risk of rejection.
- The human body’s immune system tends to attack foreign organs,
- People with type 1 diabetes already have an immune system that is prone to attack the pancreas. That’s because it led to the situation in the first place.
Therefore, transplant patients should take rejection drugs (that suppress the immune system) for the rest of their lives.
Brandon Moo, who previously suffered from type 1 diabetes, had a pancreatic transplant two years ago after years of unrecognized difficulty in controlling diabetes and hypoglycemia.
“Today’s management is taking strong immunosuppressants twice a day, taking blood tests every week, managing the side effects of medication, and taking my food as I have a very suppressed immune system.
“I see it as if I switched diabetes management in transplant management. I’m no longer an insulin-dependent diabetic patient. Diabetes will not be cured to return to vulnerable diabetes if the transplant fails. I see it as a pause of diabetes.
What are the side effects of anti-rejection drugs?
After a pancreatic transplant is performed, the patient will need anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life. This has the following side effects:
- Risk of infection
- Skin cancer
- Lymphoma
- Trembling
- headache
- osteoporosis
- Weight gain
- Water retention and swelling
- Excessive hair loss or growth
- Acne
- Sensitivity to light
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
Anti-rejection symptoms essentially suppress the immune system and make patients more susceptible to infections and infections. All immunosuppressants are available only by prescription from a physician and are provided as tablets, capsules, liquids, or injections.
The goal of anti-rejection drugs is to properly suppress the immune system and find a treatment plan that will accept new organs while the most harmful side effects are at the lowest.
If you are an organ recipient, even a small change from what you missed in your medication or dosage can cause organ rejection. If this happens, call your doctor immediately.
Karin Hehenberger has lived with both kidney and pancreatic transplants for the past 12 years. She says that for her, the side effects of the medication are minimal and totally valuable.
“I’ll do it again tomorrow, even if I don’t have a kidney transplant. I’m low and don’t always worry about diabetic complications, computing (the way I eat and dosages). I wake up with a smile instead of worrying. It’s focused on what my energy levels have allowed me to incorporate.
What happens after the port is completed?
After a successful pancreatic transplant, the new pancreas produces the insulin needed for your body, so you no longer need an insulin injection to treat type 1 diabetes.
You need to maintain good health, take rejection medication as prescribed, and monitor carefully for looking for signs of organ rejection.
- abdominal pain
- heat
- dehydration
- Excessive sensitivity at the implant site
- Hyperglycemia
- Body pain
- vomiting
If you experience any of these symptoms after an implantation surgery, call your doctor immediately for emergency medical treatment.
It is not uncommon for pancreatic recipients to experience acute rejection within weeks or months of surgery. If so, emergency treatment with intensive anti-rejection medication is required.
Life after pancreatic transplantation
Life after a pancreatic transplant varies from patient to patient, but one thing is certainly true. You probably no longer have type 1 diabetes. This sounds like a dream for many patients.
However, rejection of new organs is common. According to Mayo Clinic, pancreatic rejection rates tend to be slightly higher in pancreatic-only transport recipients than in patients receiving both new kidneys and pancreas simultaneously (due to kidney failure as a result of diabetes). Monitor carefully for signs of organ rejection.
If the new pancreas fails, insulin treatment can be resumed and a second transplant can be considered. The decision to get a second transplant is very personal and complicated, and depends on your current health status and health and life goals.
It’s also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with the new organ and protect your immune system. This is suppressed by anti-rejection drugs. Be sure to do the following:
- Exercise regularly (be sure to check with your transplant team before starting your post-surgery exercise regimen)
- Maintain a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats and fiber
- I drink lots of water
- Take all anti-rejection medications as prescribed
- Protect your immune system and avoid people with viral or bacterial infections and colds
- Wash your hands regularly and wear a face mask when you are in busy public spaces
- Manage stress
- Get plenty of sleep
- Seeking group support from other organ transplant recipients to create a community
Karin says one of the things she hopes to have access right after the transplant was in the community of people experiencing the same thing.
“I have access to the best of care, but I have no connections with other patients. I wish there was a community. The connection with others where you are is invaluable.
She was very motivated to help others do the same thing as launching her website www.transplantyfe.com. There, people waiting for organs, recent transplants, donors, caregivers, and those with family members can seek help and seek support.
However, both recipients have a new perspective on life.
Brandon said, “The biggest change was my gratitude for life. Little things don’t bother me anymore. I’m so responsible for so many people. I give back by sharing my story, raising awareness, and ensuring everything I can do to make the most of each day.”
Karin said, “When I learned that everything was suddenly different, I have one very vivid memory: I had a cappuccino and a biscotti, walking down the streets of New York City. And I am grateful for that.”
