Pancreas Transplant

Combined Kidney-Pancreas Transplant

Many patients with diabetes will eventually experience complications of the disease, including vision problems, poor kidney function, impaired sensation in their legs and feet, and heart and circulatory problems. When these patients show signs of advanced kidney disease, they are usually referred for transplant evaluation.

Mayo Clinic doctors recommend that most diabetics being evaluated for kidney transplantation also be considered for pancreas transplantation. Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation can be performed from a cadaver donor with excellent outcomes. However, the waiting time for a cadaver kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant is usually several years. During this waiting period, the transplant candidate's health often deteriorates progressively, making dialysis necessary before a transplant can occur.

For this reason we encourage all kidney transplant candidates, including diabetics, to seriously consider the option of living-donor kidney transplantation. If a suitable living donor is available, the transplant can proceed earlier and can frequently help the patient avoid dialysis.

After a successful kidney transplant, the diabetic patient should consider being placed on the waiting list for a pancreas transplant, which usually can be performed within a few months after the kidney transplant.