How Does the Donor Program Work?
From working with hospital teams to allocation to support for donor families, the work to save lives through donation is not a simple exercise. But it is an important one, especially to those waiting for their second chance at life.
Pancreas Transplants
Pancreas transplants offer hope to patients with type 1 diabetes.
About the Pancreas
The pancreas is the organ responsible for the production of insulin, a crucial hormone that helps our bodies turn sugar into fuel. Additionally, the pancreas also creates enzymes that break down fat, protein and carbohydrates during digestion.
An individual without a properly functioning pancreas does not have the necessary amount of insulin being produced in their bodies, and thus, there is a surplus sugar in their blood. This can cause major problems in the body, such as kidney failure, heart disease, strokes or even death. The most common cause of pancreas disease is Type I Diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes.
Experimental transplant of islet cells have started to be performed, as a way to treat diabetes. In these instances, the insulin-producing islet cells are isolated from the donor's pancreas and injected into the patient's liver, where they begin to produce liver for the recipient.
Transplants
It is common for a patient to be waiting for both a pancreas and a kidney transplant simultaneously, as the issues related to a malfunctioning pancreas also result in the need for a new kidney.
- In the U.S., there are nearly 1,500 people waiting for a pancreas transplant.
- Locally, there are 87 patients waiting for a pancreas transplant.
- The average amount of time that someone waits for a pancreas transplant is two years.
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Pancreas Transplant
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