Artificial pancreas and pancreas transplant for type 1 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is an incurable disease. Even so, this type of diabetes can still be controlled. Type 1 diabetics can still live a healthy life, but are very dependent on insulin therapy due to damage to the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. However, pancreatic and pancreatic transplants are said to be a new hope in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Under what conditions do diabetics need to have a pancreas transplant or an artificial pancreas? Check out a more complete explanation below.

Damage to the pancreas in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Insulin is produced by the body in the pancreas (beta cells). High blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetes are caused by damage to the pancreas. In fact, the insulin hormone has an important role in the process of metabolism or the production and burning of energy in the body.

Generally, after eating, the pancreas will release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin helps convert blood sugar (glucose) into energy. Insulin also helps other organs and tissues such as the liver, muscle, and fat cells to take up excess glucose and store it as an energy reserve.

In type 1 diabetes, the autoimmune condition causes damage to the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. As a result, the pancreas cannot produce insulin optimally. When all the beta cells are damaged, insulin production can completely stop.

Without the hormone insulin, glucose can build up in the blood and cause hyperglycemia. High blood sugar levels can disrupt the body's metabolism, giving rise to various symptoms of diabetes, such as chronic fatigue, frequent urination, and wounds that are difficult to heal.

If not treated properly, metabolic disorders can lead to diabetes complications, such as diabetic neuropathy (nervous disorders) and diabetic gastropathy (indigestion).

Therefore, treatment of type 1 diabetes cannot be separated from insulin therapy. However, in line with the development of health technology, other forms of treatment have been found that make people with type 1 diabetes no longer have to rely on manual insulin use.

Artificial pancreas and pancreas transplantation is a diabetes treatment procedure, especially for type 1, which can also be performed to control blood sugar levels. Despite being a recommended alternative, not all patients with type 1 diabetes can immediately have a pancreas transplant or have an artificial pancreatic system installed.

Pancreas transplant for diabetes

In a study by the American Diabetes Association, a pancreatic transplant or transplant procedure became the recommended treatment for people with type 1 diabetes. Despite the positive results for type 1 diabetes, this procedure is not commonly performed in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Pancreas transplants can better improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. Even so, patients with type 1 diabetes usually cannot immediately perform this procedure. This is because the risks of surgery also carry health risks.

Pancreas transplantation will be recommended when diabetes can no longer be treated with insulin therapy, medication consumption, and healthier lifestyle changes. This condition can be caused due to severe damage to the pancreas or a complication.

The process of a pancreas transplant is done by replacing the damaged pancreas with a healthy pancreas from a donor.

In order to perform a pancreas transplant procedure, several examinations are required first. One of them is the compatibility test between the donor's organs and the recipient's body. If the test results show much agreement, the pancreas transplant will have a less risk of rejection.

Pancreas transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes will usually be performed if it is accompanied by complications in the kidney. That way, the patient will immediately undergo two transplant processes at once, namely the pancreas and kidney.

However, there are several groups of people who cannot undergo a pancreas transplant, namely:

People with besitas
HIV / AIDS patients
Have a history of cancer
Consuming alcohol and cigarettes

Artificial pancreatic system for the treatment of type 1 diabetes

Unlike transplantation, implantation of an artificial pancreas does not involve a natural organ donor.

The artificial pancreas is not shaped like the real pancreas. The artificial pancreas here is a device which is an external system.

This artificial pancreas performs two functions at once, namely monitoring blood sugar (glucose) levels and pumping insulin continuously.

There are three components in the artificial pancreatic system.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
This tool functions to monitor glucose levels through sensors under the skin. CGM will then send the results to a wireless monitor. People using CGM should check the monitor to see if their glucose levels are too high or too low. They can also adjust the device so that it signals when glucose levels in the body are too high.
An insulin pump, which is installed in the body so that it can release insulin automatically without you having to inject it yourself
The technology component that connects the CGM and the insulin pump to coordinate.

How does the artificial pancreatic system work?

The exchange of information in each component of this device will work properly in regulating insulin in a healthy pancreatic organ.

In an artificial pancreatic system, a glucose monitor will send information to an external controller equipped with a specific algorithm. The algorithm of this device will calculate insulin levels in the body and instruct the insulin pump to release insulin according to the required dose.

That way, this system can significantly reduce the risk of high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) or too low blood sugar conditions (hypoglycemia) in diabetics.

Unfortunately, the artificial pancreatic system that is designed today is still rudimentary and has many flaws. Not yet found an artificial pancreatic system that is truly effective and minimizes risks. The United States Food and Drug Administration has not even approved this device for use in diabetes management.

Patients with type 1 diabetes who cannot be helped by insulin treatment are also more advised to have a pancreas transplant than to install this device.

However, clinical trials for the treatment of diabetes with an artificial pancreas are still underway. Seeing the potential uses and ease of use, it is not impossible that the artificial pancreas will become one of the most reliable diabetes treatment options in the future.