A pancreas transplant is when someone with a non-working pancreas receives a healthy organ from a deceased donor. This is a major surgery with potential complications — but for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, a successful pancreas transplant will cure diabetes.
A healthy pancreas produces insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls how your body absorbs sugar. People with diabetes do not make their own insulin. They take injections of the hormone, closely monitoring their blood sugars.
For someone with diabetes that is difficult to control or who has many complications from diabetes, a pancreas transplant can be a great option. These complications may include coronary artery disease, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) and kidney damage.
Many people who have a pancreas transplant also have a kidney transplant. This is because diabetes can also cause severe kidney damage.
If you have kidney failure from diabetes, you receive a new kidney during the same surgery as a pancreas transplant. Kidney and pancreas transplants can be helpful for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, depending on their specific complications. At Rush, we perform kidney transplants during the same operation as a pancreas transplant.
Preparing for Your Pancreas Transplant at Rush
The first step is getting approved for a pancreas transplant. If you have a lot of complications from diabetes, or if your diabetes is hard to control, a pancreas transplant can be a good option. Our transplant team can work with you to be evaluated and approved.
Once you’ve been approved for transplant, it’s important to prepare for your procedure to make sure you’re in the best health possible. At Rush, you will have a dedicated transplant coordinator to help you prepare.
The Rush team will schedule an appointment with you to make sure you’re in good health for surgery. We will check your heart, as well as review any steps you can take. Anyone on the transplant list should avoid smoking, limit alcohol and exercise regularly.
In the United States, people who need an organ transplant are ranked according to their need. Most people who need a dual pancreas and kidney transplant wait between 18 months and two years. Those who need only a pancreas transplant may wait longer. We’ll communicate with you about your expected wait time and let you know what factors in your specific case are affecting your wait time.
While you’re on the transplant list, it’s important to communicate any major health changes with your team. Whether you have another surgery, need a blood transfusion or something else, we want to know. We also work closely with those on the transplant list — your assigned coordinator will work with you to make sure you’re ready for any organ offer.
Meet our pancreas transplant providers
What to Expect During a Pancreas Transplant
Rush will let you know when you are near the top for an organ offer. Once we’re alerted that you have a match, you will be informed. Then, you will come to Rush University Medical Center.
We’ll do some blood tests and send a team to get your new organ. We do a final inspection to make sure everything is in good condition. Once the organ has final approval, our team brings it to the hospital. Once the new organ is in the operating room, we can start your surgery.
If you need both a pancreas and a kidney transplant, surgeons start by placing your new kidney.
During the surgery to implant your new kidney, another surgeon is preparing your new pancreas for the transplant. There are blood vessels and structures in the pancreas that need to be prepared before it can be transplanted. For example, the donor pancreas comes attached to the spleen, which will be removed before it’s placed inside the recipient.
Once you have a new kidney and your new pancreas is ready, doctors then surgically attach your new pancreas.
If you just have a pancreas transplant, your surgery usually takes about four hours. For kidney and pancreas transplants, the surgeries take about five to eight hours.
What to Expect After a Pancreas Transplant
For pancreas transplant alone, you’ll be in the hospital up to five days. Those who have both a kidney and pancreas transplant will be in the hospital up to seven days. While recovering, your care team will monitor your blood pressure and levels of immunosuppressant drugs. We tailor these drugs to you so you don’t have a rejection.
Once you go home from the hospital, your pancreas and kidneys should be working like normal. You won’t have to monitor blood sugars or go to dialysis. Most people report their quality of life is much better after a transplant.
We will give you frequent blood tests to make sure your new pancreas and kidney are working well and that the anti-rejection drugs are at appropriate levels for you.
Pancreas Transplant Second Opinion
If you’re thinking about a pancreas transplant to manage diabetes, our team can help. We have very low rates of complications and have an excellent team in place to help you before, during and after transplant. This may include working with our dietitian to lose weight to qualify for a transplant.
Rush Excellence in Pancreas Transplant
- Nationally recognized transplant program: Rush's transplant education program has been recognized as a center of excellence. While you’re waiting for a transplant, we can work with you to manage symptoms and prevent permanent complications from getting worse.
- Fast track to transplant: When you qualify for a pancreas transplant or kidney-pancreas transplant, you will be put on the active waiting list within 30 days. We are available 24 hours a day to respond to offers of organs for you.
- Follow-up care where — and when — you need it: After a pancreas transplant, it's important to manage your diet and lifestyle to keep your pancreas healthy. We offer care at convenient locations in Chicago and Oak Brook. You can also get blood tests at other laboratory facilities closer to home if needed.
- Second opinion services: Rush offers second opinion services to help you explore all possible treatment options, including pancreas transplant, for advanced diabetes.
Pancreatic Transplant FAQs
A combined pancreas and kidney transplant is for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are dependent on insulin.
A pancreas transplant alone is for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. We can do additional testing to find out if you would benefit from a pancreas transplant.
During a transplant, the unhealthy pancreas is left in place and not removed, and a healthy pancreas from a deceased donor is placed. This cures diabetes. Many people have a kidney transplant at the same time (because long-term diabetes causes kidney damage). Patients with type 2 diabetes that are insulin-dependent can benefit from a combined kidney and pancreas transplant.
Our team will be happy to work with you to do further tests and determine whether you’re eligible. You may be eligible for a combined pancreas and kidney transplant, or a pancreas transplant alone.
Once you have been approved for a pancreas transplant or combined pancreas and kidney transplant, your Rush team will perform an exam to check your overall health and fitness for transplant. We will examine your heart and perform blood tests. You may need to work with our dietitian to lose weight. We also encourage you to exercise regularly.
The waiting period for pancreas transplants is determined by multiple factors. This includes blood group and if you need a combined transplant. Most people who need a combined kidney and pancreas transplant wait two to three years. Those who just need a pancreas transplant may wait longer.
Rush has excellent outcomes for pancreas transplants and combined kidney-pancreas transplants, with some of the best results in the nation. Our teams have an excellent process in place to ensure you have the best chance of a successful transplant and recovery.
After your pancreas or kidney-pancreas transplant surgery, you’ll be in the hospital for about five to seven days. Your team will monitor you closely to make sure your new organ or organs are working well and set up for good long-term function.
Once you leave the hospital, you’ll need frequent blood tests — twice per week for the first month to ensure your new organ or organs are working well and to tailor the level of immunosuppressant drugs. We talk with you about any issues you may have. We also want to celebrate that your new organ has removed the need for managing diabetes or dialysis. If you have any other issues, we can help you find a solution.
Most people have an improved quality of life following pancreas or kidney-pancreas transplant. You no longer need to monitor your blood sugar or manage diabetes.
We make sure that patients have the nutrition education they need to avoid weight gain following transplant.
Your anti-rejection drugs are tailored to you and your specific situation. We monitor patients closely both in the hospital and once discharged to make sure they have no signs of rejection. Our team has decades of experience in managing patients following transplant and making sure they have a successful recovery and excellent long-term results.
