Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing public health concern in South Africa (SA) and poses a substantial economic burden on healthcare globally. A century has passed since the discovery of insulin, and despite advances in diabetes management, exogenous insulin remains a primary treatment for type 1 DM, posing challenges of hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia. Pancreas transplantation should be considered a treatment for insulin-deficient DM, offering sustained euglycaemia and preventing complications associated with the disease. However, there has been a global decrease in the number of transplants performed. In SA, only a few pancreas transplants have been performed, primarily because of surgical risks and the need for immunosuppression. Islet transplantation is an alternative but faces limitations due to donor scarcity and immunosuppression requirements. This review explores recent progress in pancreas and islet transplants for DM, with the aim of providing insights into expanding treatment options for people with insulin-deficient DM.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.