The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
myClipboard
myClipboard
Save news, events, articles and doctor's information to your personal clipboard for later reference.
Add items by clicking the 
button.
Create an account
Centers of Excellence
-
-
We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
-
The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
-
Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
-
The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
Share
Print
Pancreas Transplant
The pancreas is a small organ, approximately six inches long, located in the upper abdomen. It is essential to the digestive process, producing enzymes that help digest protein, fat and carbohydrates before they are absorbed through the intestine. It also produces insulin, which regulates the use of blood sugar throughout the body.
If the pancreas fails to produce adequate insulin, the result is diabetes. With diabetes, high levels of sugar develop in the blood and may lead to complications. Long-term complications of diabetes can include heart disease, kidney disease, blood vessel disease, blindness and nerve damage to the legs and feet.
Type 1 Diabetes often is treated with insulin in the form of daily injections. These injections help to lower the amount of sugar in the blood. This treatment is monitored closely, and adjustments often are made to administer the amount of insulin needed.
A pancreas transplant may be recommended for people who have Type 1 diabetes and kidney failure. A transplanted pancreas is able to produce steady levels of insulin, preventing fluctuating levels of high and low blood sugars.
Tests to determine if someone is a good candidate for a pancreas transplant are similar to those for a kidney transplant. Tests include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Chest X-ray
- EKG
- Stress Test
- Dental Clearance
- Cardiac Clearance
- Pap Smear (women)
- PSA (men)
The age limit for pancreas donation transplant is 45. However, special consideration may be given to those between 45 and 50 years of age.
The average length of hospital stay is 10 to 14 days for a pancreas transplant.
If you are a Type 1 diabetic and have questions about this service, contact the UT Medical Center’s pre-transplant coordinator, Susan Noe, by calling 865-305-9236.