Could A Pancreas Transplant Cure Diabetes?

In a pancreatic transplant, a healthy pancreas from a deceased donor is surgically implanted into a patient whose pancreas is no longer functioning correctly.

An organ called the pancreas is located behind the lower portion of the stomach. Its production of the hormone insulin, which controls the uptake of sugar into cells, is one of its primary tasks. Type 1 diabetes can develop if the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin and blood sugar levels reach harmful levels.

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Type 1 diabetes is the most common reason for pancreatic transplants. Potential treatment for this illness includes pancreatic transplantation. However, because a pancreas transplant might have dangerous adverse effects, it is normally only performed in patients who have severe problems from diabetes.

Pancreas transplants may occasionally be used to treat type 2 diabetes. Rarely, pancreas transplants may be performed to treat bile duct cancer, pancreatic cancer, or other types of cancer. In patients whose kidneys have been harmed by diabetes, a pancreas transplant is frequently performed in conjunction with a kidney transplant.

Reasons to Go for Pancreas Transplant

Often the question arises, can a pancreas transplant cure diabetes? The answer to this is that, although it’s not a common form of treatment, a pancreas transplant can improve blood sugar management in diabetics and restore insulin production.

Typically, a pancreatic transplant is only considered if

• You also have severe kidney illness; in these circumstances, a pancreas transplant may be performed concurrently with a kidney transplant.
• You experience frequent, unforeseen episodes of dangerously low blood sugar that are not managed by insulin.

People with type 2 diabetes typically don’t have the option of a pancreas transplant as a kind of treatment. That’s because type 2 diabetes doesn’t result from a problem with the pancreas producing insulin; rather, it develops when the body grows resistant to insulin or is unable to use it efficiently.

A pancreas transplant, however, might be an option as a treatment for some type 2 diabetics who also have low insulin resistance and low insulin production. Diabetes type 2 patients account for 15% of all pancreatic transplants. Thus, pancreas transplant for diabetes type 2 is undertaken by doctors to improve the condition of the patients.

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What are the Risks Involved in the Transplantation of Pancreas

Significant problems after pancreas transplant surgery include:

• Blood clots
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Excessive blood sugar levels or other metabolic issues
• Urinary issues, such as infections of the urinary system or leaking
• Failure of the donated pancreas
• Rejection of the donated pancreas

What are the Outcomes that can be Expected?

After a successful pancreatic transplant, your new pancreas will produce the insulin your body requires, thus insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes won’t be necessary anymore. Your immune system will attempt to reject your replacement pancreas even if you and the donor are the finest possible match.

You’ll require anti-rejection drugs to suppress your immune system in order to prevent rejection. Most likely, you’ll be taking these medications for the rest of your life. Your doctor may also prescribe antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal medications since immune system-suppressing drugs increase your body’s susceptibility to infection.

The following are warning signs and symptoms that your body may be rejecting your new pancreas:

• Belly pain
• Fever
• Excessive tenderness at the transplant site
• Increased blood sugar levels
• Vomiting
• Decreased urination

Inform the doctor right once if any of these symptoms appear.

Can Pancreas Transplant Cure Type 1 Diabetes?

To answer the big question, can pancreas transplant cure diabetes let us understand that by definition, if you undergo a pancreas transplant, you won’t have any overt signs of diabetes and won’t require insulin injections, so it can be a cure of diabetes.

The downsides of receiving a major organ transplant are, however, numerous.

It’s critical to reduce the chance that your body will reject the given organ when receiving an organ transplant. There are two factors that increase the chance of rejection in the event of a pancreas transplant for Type 1 Diabetes:

• The immune system of the human body usually attacks any alien organ.
• Since the pancreas was the original cause of type 1 diabetes, the person already has an immune system that is predisposed to fighting it.

As a result, pancreas transplant for diabetes type 1 recipients are required to take immune-suppressing anti-rejection medications for the rest of their lives, which may have major side effects and be expensive and challenging to manage. 

Disclaimer: The information given is only for general awareness and not meant to substitute any medical advice. Consulting a doctor or healthcare expert is suggested for appropriate medical advice. 

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Recovery After Pancreas Transplant 

• Following a pancreas transplant, you will often need to spend 2 to 3 weeks in the hospital.
• Within a few months, most people are able to resume their regular activities.
• Your transplant team can advise you on how long you should refrain from particular activities while recovering.
• After the transplant, you’ll visit your transplant team for routine check-ups.
• Additionally, you’ll need to take immunosuppressant medications for the rest of your life.
• Without these medications, your body will attack your replacement pancreas because it will perceive it as foreign. Rejection is the name for this.

Additionally, it’s critical to keep up a healthy lifestyle with your new organ and to safeguard your immune system, which will be weakened by anti-rejection drugs. To make sure that this cure for diabetes works, ensure that you:

• Exercise regularly (be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise routine after the surgery)
• Maintain a diet rich in fiber, lean proteins, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Take in a lot of water
• All anti-rejection medications should be taken as directed.
• Avoid getting in contact with those who have colds or viral or bacterial diseases to strengthen your immune system.
• When you’re in crowded, public areas, wash your hands frequently and put on a face mask
• Reduce stress
• Get lots of rest
• To build a community, look for support from other organ transplant recipients

References:

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pancreas-transplant/about/pac-20384783
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreas-transplant/#:~:text=A%20pancreas%20transplant%20is%20an,not%20need%20to%20inject%20it.
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreas-transplant/#:~:text=A%20pancreas%20transplant%20is%20an,not%20need%20to%20inject%20it.