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Diabetes Part Two

 

Shapiro estimates that 10% of people with type 1 diabetes may be candidates for islet cell transplants. Islet cell recipients have to stay on a special combination of immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of their lives to avoid rejection of the donor cells. Theses drugs have significant side effects including increased risks of infections, mouth sores, and stomach problems. They have also been linked to a higher risk of cancer.

 "Some people are overwhelmed by the number of medications they have to take," says Richard Perez, MD, PhD, and the director of the Transplant Center at the University of California Medical Center at Davis. "But you have to remember that a lot of these patients were sick, and already on a complicated medication regimen anyway."

 Side effects of transplant drugs:

Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Headache High blood pressure High cholesterol Puffy face anemia arthritis weakened bones Increased appetite Weight gain trouble sleeping mood swings swelling and tingling of the hands and feet acne and other skin problems, tremors, hair loss or unwanted hair growth

I have mixed feelings about it….It’s rather a temporary solution . All of us have been rather discouraged by limitations of long term survival…..

It’s especially hard when we do a transplant in a young child. With a successful heart transplant, a young child (2-3 years old) grows to be 13 or 14, and then they may die or require a second transplant. heart.

 OH Frazier heart surgeon

Historically, we thought the artificial heart would be the answer. When I was in medical school, the head of our research team was one of the most experienced people in the field. He told me in 1965 that by 1980 there would be 100,000 Americans with a total artificial heart. Of course, there weren’t.

 OH Frazier heart surgeon