Donate your pancreas?

[Northerner]

I did a YouGov survey this morning and one of the questions was about donating various organs. One was the heart (when you have passed away) - fine, but another was 'pancreas (live donation). Eh??? Kidney, I could understand, and I believe part of your liver can be taken for transplant, but pancreas when you are living? 😱 Am I missing something here?

 

[Robin]

I just had to google that. sounded a bit improbable. Apparently they can remove part of it, and harvest the islet cells for injection into the recipients liver. Not that they'd want mine, anyway!

 

[Sally71]

I was going to say can you donate just islet cells, I thought the liver was the only organ that could be cut up and still donated though. Interesting stuff!

 

[trophywench]

I don't fink live donation of part of a pancreas would be one I'd sign up to, even if I weren't diabetic but somehow knew as much about the folk I've 'met' on forums as I do.

We had a member on DSF (relatively youngish otherwise healthy chap) that had part of his removed (due to something or another that DID need doing!) and he was told it would save his life, but there was no guarantees about what might ensue. He had allsorts of probs, kind of reminiscent of Potter Sue on a smaller scale. Don't think we've heard from him in a while .......... but that 'his own insulin production was erratic' was an understatement.

 

[pav]

Don't think mine is worth donating, its to erratic even for me to control.

 

[Rosiecarmel]

Wouldn't mind someone donating theirs to me...

 

[pottersusan]

Wouldn't mind someone donating theirs to me...

I'd go along with that!

Before I had my op I was told I would be diabetic afterwards. When asked if I would be T1 or 2 the consultant said 'Yes' (he does have a sense of humour)- which kind of sums up my situation! When they remove a bit of your pancreas I really don't think they can predict what is going to happen with the bit left.