World Leader in Pancreas Transplant and Islet Transplant

The Transplant Center—Pancreas transplants to treat diabetes

Pancreas Transplant Alone (PTA)

Persons with diabetes may decide to have a pancreas transplant alone. The patient:

• may not need a kidney but may want to prevent complications from diabetes,
• neuropathy (nerve damage)
• retinopathy (eye damage)
• nephropathy (kidney disease)
• heart disease
• may suffer frequent hypoglycemic episodes or
• may have serious problems controlling diabetes.

This procedure is appropriate for patients who have labile insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus resulting in impaired quality of life, with problems that are more serious than the potential side effects of the immunosuppressive drugs, which are necessary to prevent rejection. For example, a pancreas transplant best treats hypoglycemic unawareness.

This treatment would not be appropriate for those with uncorrectable coronary artery disease, advanced peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes adequately controlled by insulin injections.