Transplant Center

The Nebraska Medical Center's Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program offers several types of transplant options and therapies for patients with Type I diabetes. If you are a Type I diabetic, here are some transplant options to consider:

Pancreas-Only Transplants:

Pancreas-only transplants are performed if you are experiencing the beginning stages of diabetic complications or have "brittle" control, frequent episodes of insulin reactions and have good kidney function to tolerate the anti-rejection medications.

Kidney/Pancreas Transplant (Simultaneous Kidney/Pancreas)

This dual transplant is considered if you have Type I diabetes mellitus, have developed kidney failure as a result of diabetes, and are determined to be an acceptable candidate for the combined transplant. If you are approved for this transplant procedure, you will be placed on the deceased donor list and receive a kidney and pancreas from the same donor.

Types of Kidney/Pancreas Transplants

Living donor kidney transplant followed by pancreas after kidney transplant:

The waiting time for a transplant can be very long (up to two to three years) for the combined kidney/pancreas transplant. If you have an acceptable kidney donor we can proceed with living donor kidney transplant. After you recover from the kidney transplant we then place you on the waiting list for a pancreas (after kidney) transplant.

Deceased donor transplant followed by pancreas after kidney transplant:

If you do not have a living kidney donor possibility but want to obtain a kidney transplant you may prefer to be listed for a kidney or kidney/pancreas transplant, whichever comes first. If you receive a deceased donor kidney transplant, you can be reactivated on the waiting list for pancreas (after kidney) when you have recovered from the kidney transplant.

Pancreatic Islet Transplants:

Islet cells are taken from a deceased donor pancreas and transplanted into the liver of a person with Type I diabetes. Once transplanted, the new islets cells begin to make insulin, with the goal that you will no longer need daily insulin injections. You will however, need long-term, anti-rejection medications.

Auto-Islet Cell Transplants for Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis

Some patients with chronic pancreatitis may need to have their pancreas surgically removed (pancreatectomy). Islet cells are part of the pancreas function that makes insulin and controls blood sugar. Those individuals needing a pancreatectomy may be a candidate for an auto islet cell transplant. An auto islet transplant is done after the pancreas is removed and a special laboratory removed the islet cell from the pancreas and the surgeon then put the islet cells into the liver. Once transplanted the islet cells begin to make insulin, with the goal that you will not need daily insulin injections. If your pancreas has too much damage from the pancreatitis, it may not be possible to do the auto islet cell transplant.