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What is a Pancreas Transplant?

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A pancreas transplant is an alternative treatment for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A pancreas transplant is a complex surgical process whereby the complete pancreas of a cadaveric donor is implanted in the abdomen of the recipient patient. In most cases, pancreas transplantation is associated with kidney transplantation, as these patients with diabetes mellitus also have chronic kidney disease.

Pancreas transplant | PortalCLÍNIC

The pancreas transplant, once he leaves the hospital, must bear in mind that he is no longer diabetic and no longer needs insulin.

Frederic Cofan Nephrologist

Pancreas Transplant in first person...

It increasingly limits you. First they limit your protein intake and then they end up telling you that you're going to need a transplant.

Laura Patient

The main objective of a pancreas transplant is to implant the recipient with cells that produce the necessary amount of insulin. Patients who have received a pancreas transplant are able to maintain normal blood glucose (sugar) values without needing any other diabetes treatment. A functional transplanted pancreas is capable of producing insulin based on the needs of each patient. This prevents critical episodes of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels below 50 mg/dL) as well as hyperglycaemia (excessive blood glucose).

A pancreas transplant also has a favourable effect on the prevention of long-term complications caused by diabetes. It has also been seen to improve patient survival and quality of life, when compared with a kidney-only transplant.