Why would someone need a pancreas transplant?

A pancreas transplant is necessary when a patient's existing pancreas fails to produce insulin or digest food properly. This can occur secondary to diabetes, trauma, pancreatitis, and other diseases.

A successful pancreas transplant may provide long-term relief from some of the damaging effects of diabetes and other diseases that cause digestive difficulties. These include improved blood sugar control and elimination or reduction of insulin dependence; better nutrition due to improved digestion; prevention or reversal of damage caused by diabetes; reduced pain associated with pancreatitis; reduction in risk for kidney failure, stroke, blindness, and amputation related to poor diabetic control; significantly improving quality of life.

Recent technological advances in organ transplantation have greatly increased the success rates for individuals receiving a pancreas transplant. While there are still risks associated with this procedure — including potential rejection of the transplanted organ — overall long-term outcomes are positive for many patients who receive a new pancreas as part of their treatment plan.