Chennai: With technological advancement and better immunosuppressive drugs, pancreas transplantation is now being considered for type 1diabetics to give them complete insulin independence. A study points out that nearly 75 per cent of pancreas transplantations are performed with kidney transplantations and in patients with renal failure.
In India, the first successful simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant was reported in 2005. Type 1 diabetes is seen mostly in the younger population, and is characterised by deficient insulin production due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.
“Earlier, pancreas transplantations were tried, but not regularly. There’s a lack of awareness about it among people and also physicians. This transplantation can be done only for type 1 diabetics and that, too, not on everyone. Only a select group of patients needs this,” says Dr N. Sezhian, senior consultant and transplant surgeon, institute of urology, Global Health City.
He added that after transplantation, patients can enjoy life without insulin. The hospital is planning to start this transplantation.
Pancreas from a deceased donor is transplanted to the recipient or both kidney and pancreas together are transplanted.
Government Stanley Hospital is also planning to do pancreas transplantations in the future. A senior doctor pointed out that stem cell therapy might replace pancreas transplantation for type 1 diabetes in the near future.
Dr Anand Moses, former director, institute of diabetology, Madras Medical College, says that type 1 diabetes constitutes a low number.
“Pancreas can be transplanted or insulin secreting cells alone can be transplanted. But everything is still in the early stages and good immunosuppressant drugs are needed to prevent rejection,” says Dr Moses, adding that even after transplantation, some of them might require insulin.
