If you have type 1 diabetes that means that the islet cells in the pancreas are no longer produce insulin. So chances are that you will need to have pancreas transplant surgery. This is a complex surgery. And you should know that the cure can be worse than the disease.
Your body has a complex system it has no problem deciphering foreign parts from its own. Your surgeon will do his utmost to match your donor's blood protein type with yours in order to fool the body into accepting the donor organ. You will also be required to take immunosuppressive drugs in order to prevent the immune system from fighting the new organ. But beware that the side effects of these drugs can be more severe than the problems caused by diabetes.
The good news is that if the transplant takes you will no longer have diabetes and there is only a minute chance that you would ever get it again. Just think no more sticking your finger with a needle and you won't have to spend any more money on insulin.
About have of all pancreas transplants are rejected. If your pancreas is placed to drain into the bladder there will be a greater chance that your body won't reject it, but if it is connect to other body sites, the risk of rejection increases. If your transplant does fail you have diabetes again.
If you have type 2 diabetes you cannot have a transplant because of your body's inability to respond to insulin the correct way. This surgery only works if you have type 1 diabetes.
Organ donor requirements are strict which limit the amount of available pancreases. You can receive a partial pancreas from a relative if a cadaver pancreas is not available.
Before you have a transplant your surgeon will make sure that your circulator system is healthy enough for the operation. A pancreas transplant is safest in you do not have any heart or blood vessel disease. The healthier that you are the better you will be able to handle the physical stress of surgery.
People who have transplants need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives and these medications are hard on the body. Some of the drugs weaken your immune system so you are more susceptible to infections and there are other side effects as well. If a family member or friend has a cold or the flu you will need to stay away from them, in general you should avoid anyone with an infection. Kidney damage is also a possibility when taking these drugs.
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