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Q: 

what are the criteria for having a pancreatic transplant or pancreatic cell transplant done?

By Anonymous January 27, 2010 - 10:30pm
 
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I became a diabetic when my third child was born at age 28. In April I turn fifty. I take Lantus 30units/day, Janumet 50/1000 twice a day. I had angioplasty/stent in my LAD in June of 2004 due to angina. My HbA1c has been between 7-8% most of the time. No matter what I do I can't seem to bring it down. I exercise regularly and eat moderately. I am tired of going through all this and not knowing what to do to control my blood sugars. I recently am diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, more in in left eye than right. Would I be a candidate for pancreatic transplant or pancreatic cell transplant by any chance? I heard of a procedure called 'sleeve gastric by pass" which can be done on diabetics who are normal weight. Could you tell me if I would be qualified for this procedure? How could I help myself from this chronic condition? what can I do?

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Hi, Anon,

I sent your question to Dr. Theodore C. Friedman at UCLA, who is the chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine and the chief of their division of endocrinology there. Here's his answer:

"The first thing I need to know is if you are a type 1 (no insulin) or type 2 (insulin resistance plus decreased insulin secretion). It sounds like are a type 2. But you get a c-peptide, if its 0, then you are a type 1, if its higher,then a type 2. Pancreatic transplants are only done on type 1.

"It sounds like you need more diabetic medicines. You can add a sulfonylurea such as glipizide, add a glitazone such as actos, or add regular or lispro insulin before meals. I would discuss with your diabetologist (I would recommend you being followed by a diabetes specialist). Also make sure your ldl cholesterol is less than 70 and you are taking an aspirin daily."

Here's an EmpowHER article that describes the Mayo Clinic's criteria for a pancreas transplant and what to expect:

https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/12/03/pancreas-transplant-–-what-expect

And here is our EmpowHER Encyclopedia page on pancreatic islet cell transplantation:

https://www.empowher.com/media/reference/pancreatic-islet-cell-transplantation

Does this help, Anon? Is your doctor a diabetic specialist? Are you type 1?

February 3, 2010 - 9:30am

Hi, Anon,

Welcome to EmpowHER, and thank you for your question. I would like to submit it to one of the doctors on our Medical Advisory Board.

Hang in there with me for a few days while we wait for their response, OK? Your question is complex and I want to be sure we get the answers right.

Diane

January 29, 2010 - 8:50am
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