pankrieus

[johninacar]

havent speelt pancreus right but y cant we dees have a transplant?

 

[Northerner]

They do do pancreas transplants, but it is a very difficult operation to perform, partly due to the danger of leakage of the digestive enzymes escaping from it and literally eating through other body tissues. When it is done, it is usually combined with a kidney transplant as this is less dangerous, but would also usually mean the recipient would need to be needing a new kidney also. You then still need to take lots of anti-rejection drugs, so may not be much better off - so only reserved for cases of extreme need.

 

[shambles]

it's also not a solve all solution.

My half brother had a pancreatic and kidney transplant last year. he is still diabetic and very recently nearly lost his foot

He's not been the luckiest I guess - he just can't get it under control x

 

[Northerner]

it's also not a solve all solution.

My half brother had a pancreatic and kidney transplant last year. he is still diabetic and very recently nearly lost his foot

He's not been the luckiest I guess - he just can't get it under control x

Sorry to hear that shambles Has he been diagnosed long?

I believe that stem cell transplants are more common, although not necessarily a permanent solution.

 

[shambles]

Ages Northerner - the transplant came after plus 10 years trying to control it 🙂 he's finally recovering from the transplant (allowed to begin exercising again etc) but his diabetes has still not been great hence him nearly losing his foot 🙂 he is ok, very much a deal with what's thrown. I question if he's a 1 but he lives in America so it's a bit far to get really involved in it all 🙂 My Dad is a type 1 🙂

 

[DeusXM]

It's also because a pancreas transplant won't really make any difference.

For a T1, you give them a new pancreas, their immune system will just trash up the beta cells as before.

For a T2, the issue is that the insulin produced isn't used properly, so all you're doing is changing the fuel tank when the issue is the engine.

 

[Tina63]

I was also going to comment that surely as it's an autoimmune condition then the immune system will just get to work on the new pancreas anyway? Ok it may buy you some time, but surely the inevitable will happen again?

What do I know? Just a theory.

 

[shambles]

My brother got a transplant because it was that or die - but it was the damage to his kidneys from the D that was the issue not the pancreas itself. I think they thought that if they were doing one they should use both and give him the best chance to be healthy for a while at least - maybe get the new pancreas working more effectively by his body being healthy enough to try the diet/exercise/drugs route?

I haven't really looked into it in any detail and it's not something he likes to discuss in that much detail (he was very very poorly). Was just more a comment that a pancreatic transplant doesn't "cure" diabetes