Pancreas Transplant Surgery for Diabetes - Topic Overview
Pancreas transplant surgery is a surgical treatment for
people with
type 1 diabetes. The person's pancreas is not removed.
The transplanted pancreas is placed in the front part of the abdomen.
Insulin from the transplanted pancreas is released
into the bloodstream through the lower abdominal blood vessels (veins). See a
picture of a
pancreas transplant 
.
When the surgery is successful, the person may no longer have symptoms of diabetes or need to treat diabetes. But the person may still develop complications from diabetes. If the person already has complications, they may continue to get worse as time goes on.1
This surgery is used mainly for people who have had or plan to have a kidney transplant. The pancreas transplant can be done at the same time as or after the kidney transplant.
A person who wants to have only a pancreas transplant must:1
- Have a history of severe metabolic problems from diabetes (such as diabetic ketoacidosis).
- Have had major problems with insulin therapy.
- Have had complications despite insulin therapy.
Pancreas transplants are done only in hospitals that handle kidney transplants and that are equipped to care for people who have kidney transplant surgery.
People who receive a transplanted pancreas must take immunosuppressive medicine to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new organ.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Pancreas Transplant Surgery for Diabetes Topics
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
Affect Your Blood Sugar?
Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
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This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
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