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Q.

What surgery options do I have for Type 1 Diabetes Living With Complications?

Related Topics: Type 1 Diabetes, Surgery
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A.

Some complications from type 1 diabetes may need surgical treatment. For example, surgery to remove the vitreous gel (vitrectomy) may improve eye disease, diabetic retinopathy.

For more information, see the topics:

For more information on heart and blood vessel disease, see the topics:

If you have kidney damage from diabetes and are considering a kidney transplant, you may be eligible for surgery to replace your pancreas (pancreas transplant) at the same time. In either case, you need to meet specific criteria to be considered for the surgery.

The only other surgery for type 1 diabetes is the insertion of working pancreas cells (islet cell transplant) into your body. Islet cell transplant surgery is experimental at this time, and you also need to meet specific criteria.

Surgery Choices

Pancreas transplant surgery
Pancreatic islet cell transplantation

What To Think About

Pancreas and islet cell transplants are very expensive. After having one of these surgeries, you must take immunosuppressive medicines to keep your body from rejecting the new tissue.

The success rate for pancreas transplants is improving because of new surgical techniques and new medicines. But islet cell transplants may replace pancreas transplants in the future.11 People with complications from diabetes aren't always eligible for islet cell transplants.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...down arrowThis answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.up arrow

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Read the Original Article: Type 1 Diabetes: Living With Complications-Surgery
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