You may be placed on the pancreas transplant waiting list after we complete your evaluation and after your insurance approves your transplant. We will send you a letter stating that you have been added to the list. To stay on the list, you will need to send regular blood samples to our lab. The letter will tell you how to do this.

Your blood type, tissue type and antibody level will go into a national database at the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). UNOS directs who can receive deceased (non-living) donor organs throughout the United States.

When a pancreas becomes available, the patient with the best match and longest waiting time is contacted. We will never know where you are on the list, because we don’t know how well the next pancreas will match your blood type, tissue type, etc.

To stay on the waiting list
To stay on the pancreas transplant waiting list, you must send a blood sample to our lab every 8 to 12 weeks. If your tests show a  high level of antibodies (known as a high PRA), you may have a longer wait.

If we do not have a current blood sample, you may not receive a pancreas. If there are no samples within six months, your place on the waiting list may be put “on hold.” This means you won’t receive an organ. You will receive a letter if you are put on hold.

You must see a doctor every year for medical tests. We will send you a letter to remind you. The letter will explain the tests you will need. You will have two months to complete these tests. Have your doctor send us your results. If we don’t receive them, you will be put on hold.

Living donors
Most people receive an organ from a deceased donor. Living pancreas donation is possible in certain cases. It is not common.

For some people, a living donor may be a better choice if the donor is an exact match. The best donors are identical twins. The next-best donors are often brothers and sisters. Other people may be able to donate as well, even if they are not related to you.

During living donor surgery, surgeons remove part of the donor’s pancreas. It is a major surgery for the donor. We will do a careful evaluation to make sure the donor is healthy enough for this surgery.

Who can be a donor?
A living donor must be 18 to 60 years old and in good physical health. He or she must be at least 10 years older than the age you were when you developed diabetes. Donors may not have:

• Close relatives with type 1 diabetes (other than you, the transplant patient)
• Close relatives with type 2 diabetes
• A body mass index (BMI) over 27. A nurse or doctor can calculate this. A BMI over 27 means a person is obese, or very overweight.

We will also check for the following health risks. A person with these risks might not be able to donate his or her pancreas:

• Smoking
• History of high blood pressure or heart disease
• History of cancer
• History of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
• History of alcoholism or drinking too much
• History or pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas)

Donating a pancreas is a big decision. It is important for donors to know how it will affect their lives. The Transplant Center will help answer their questions so they can make a decision.

We will not discuss donor information with you, unless the donor asks us to. We will not discuss your information with the donor. We ask that the donor share the details he or she would like you to have.

Donor expenses
Donor costs related to blood testing, health exams and hospital care are billed to your insurance (the organ recipient’s) at the time of transplant. Expenses not covered include:

• Getting to and from the hospital
• Loss of income as the donor recovers from surgery
• Further medical care, if we find problems during the donor's health exam

Some donors receive a grant to help pay for these costs. The donor’s social worker will discuss this and other details.

If you would like to learn more about living pancreas transplant, or you have someone who may wish to be a donor, please call your transplant coordinator.