Enhanced Lifestyle with Pancreatic Islet Transplantation in Type 1 Diabetic

Many studies and research work have exhibited that post-transplantation of insulin-producing pancreatic islets the essence of life in patients with Type 1 diabetes has improved significantly. This has been a valuable contribution for patients who have severe hypoglycemia which is a potentially fatal low blood glucose level condition. But before we proceed further everyone should have a clear understanding of islets cells and its contribution.

The greatest improvements were seen in the diabetes-related quality of life. Islet beneficiaries announced better overall health status after transplantation, notwithstanding the necessity for permanent treatment with immune-suppressing drugs to prevent transplant rejection.

What are Islets?

The pancreas is an organ that makes hormones to help your body break down and use food. They also contain pancreatic islets which is a group of cells in the pancreas depicted as islets of Langerhans. The pancreas is a secretory organ in the upper abdomen, but actually, it assists as two glands one as digestive exocrine gland and the other as hormone-producing endocrine gland.

Islets contain several types of cells; the beta cells make the hormone insulin whereas the alpha cell of the pancreas produces glucagon. The insulin aids the body to use glucose for strength and helps them regulate the blood glucose levels, also collectively called blood sugar.

Pancreatic Islet Transplantation

In personalities with type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system strikes and damages the beta cells. Therefore, individuals with type 1 diabetes must take insulin as their bodies no longer make this hormone. The transplantation has been an experimental treatment for type 1 diabetes. As this is an innovative procedure, islet transplantation is only performed under the guidance of the federal body of that nation.

The whole transplantation procedure of islet cells in type 1 diabetes patients is called islet allo-transplantation wherein the doctors take out the healthy beta cells from the pancreas of a departed organ donor. Next, the healthy islet cells are injected into a vein that carries blood to the liver of a person with type 1 diabetes. Here the person receiving a transplant is called a recipient. These islets release insulin in the recipient’s body. Those who have got their transplantation done have shown improved blood glucose levels, reduced need of insulin injection and were able to recognize well the hypoglycemic conditions.

There is even an option of total pancreas transplantation wherein the recipient with type 1 diabetes receives healthy beta cells. However, the pancreas transplant is a significant operation and offers a greater risk of complexities than islet transplantation.

Right Applicants For Islet Transplantation

People with type 1 diabetes who are the right candidates for transplantation include individuals who have the right blood glucose levels and is hard to manage, facing difficult hypoglycemia, and have hypoglycemia unawareness.

People who have type 1 diabetes and are planning to have; a kidney transplant to treat kidney failure may also be candidates for islet transplantation. Islet transplantation may be conducted at the same time or following a kidney transplant. Kidney transplant recipients will already be taking immune suppressants to prevent denial of the transplanted kidney. Hence, the islet transplant does not add much more risk.

A Brief About The Islet Transplantation Procedure

Exceptional enzymes are used to extract islets from the pancreas of a deceased contributor. The islets are washed and calculated in a lab. The truth is that about 400,000 islets are transplanted in each procedure. During the procedure, the transplant recipient will quite often receive a local anesthetic and a sedative drug to help you rest for the procedure.

Reference

Not all people with type 1 diabetes are good candidates for islet transplantation but who are considered for transplantation must meet Dr Mudit Sabharwal, the best diabetes doctor in Delhi for ensured treatment.

Categorised in: Diabetes