Transplantation Of Pancreatic Islets Controls Blood Sugar In Type 1 Diabetes, Prevents Severe Hypoglycemic Events

A study shows that transplantation of pancreatic islets can restore blood sugar awareness and control in people with type 1 diabetes. It also inhibits acute potentially life-threatening hypoglycemia.

Science Daily reports that the clinical trial was funded by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). The study was conducted by the NIH-sponsored Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) Consortium. It was published online in Diabetes Care.

The researchers said that the transplantation of pancreatic islets is effective for people who have acute hypoglycemia, in which the low blood sugar levels lead to loss of consciousness, seizures and even death. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., NIAID Director, said that islet transplantation offers a potentially life-saving treatment that in the majority of cases eradicate acute hypoglycemic events while giving tremendous control of blood sugar.

Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., NIDDK Director, explained that the treatment is still experimental, and though it has risks that must be considered carefully, the islet transplantation is still irrefutable and encouraging. The study involved 48 people who had persistent hypoglycemia and suffered acute hypoglycemic episodes even though they were being cared by endocrinologist or diabetes specialists. The participants obtained at least one transplant of islet inserted into their portal veins, which is the major vessel that carries blood from the intestine into the liver.

The results showed that after a year, 88 percent of the participants were free of acute hypoglycemic episodes. They also had near-normal control of glucose levels and restored hypoglycemic awareness. Furthermore, after two years, about 71 percent of the participants remained to meet these criteria for the transplant of islets success.

There are two types of pancreatic islet transplantation, namely, the pancreatic islet allotransplantation and the pancreatic islet autotransplantation. The allotransplantation is a process wherein the islets from the pancreas of a departed organ donor are processed, purified and transferred to another person. On the other hand, the autotransplantation is achieved following the pancreatectomy. This is the surgical elimination of the entire pancreas of patients with chronic pancreatitis. People diagnose with type 1 diabetes cannot have the islet autotransplantation.