Giving persons living with diabetes a fresh start.
Pancreas and kidney transplant options can transform lives.
- 1.25 million people in the U.S. have Type 1 diabetes
- 20-30% of these people will develop kidney failure
Two groups of people can benefit from a pancreas or kidney + pancreas transplant.
- People with Type 1 diabetes whose kidneys are functioning and develop "hypoglycemia unawareness" – they can't tell when their blood sugar levels change, and therefore may have life threatening insulin reactions.
- People with Type 1 diabetes who do not make their own insulin resulting in difficulty controlling diabetes and kidney disease. Up to 30% can develop kidney failure over several decades. In patients with kidney failure, simultaneous kidney/pancreas or kidney alone followed by pancreas after kidney transplant are life transforming options.
Two transplant options restore hope.
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Pancreas-only transplant
For people with Type 1 diabetes plus hypoglycemia unawareness or other complications.
Their kidneys must be functional.
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Pancreas + kidney transplant
For people with Type 1 diabetes accompanied by kidney failure.
This transplant may happen simultaneously, or in two sequential surgeries.
Transplantation for diabetes success rates
Simultaneous pancreas + kidney transplant 93%
Sequential pancreas + kidney transplant 91%
Pancreas-only transplant 78%
Produced by Mayo Clinic. Sources: mayoclinic.org; diabetes.org; kidney.org; bmj.com.