Pancreas Transplant

Pancreas Transplant

Signs and Symptoms
Evaluation
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

The pancreas, located below your liver and under your stomach, is about 7 inches long and weighs about 3.5 ounces. It has two main functions:

• The first is to help digest food by making and releasing enzymes in the upper portion of the small intestine. Carbohydrates, fats and proteins are broken down into small parts that the body uses to nourish itself. In addition, the pancreas makes large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, which can make the contents of the stomach less caustic or acidic as they flow through the small intestine. Sodium bicarbonate also can help keep fluids in the body and prevent dehydration.

• The other job of the pancreas is to make insulin, a hormone necessary for the body to use carbohydrates properly. If you don't produce insulin, you have a disease called diabetes.

A pancreas transplant can help manage the organ damage that may result from insulin-dependent diabetes. A successful pancreas transplant will eliminate the need for insulin injections, reduce or eliminate dietary and activity restrictions due to diabetes and decrease or eliminate the risk of severe low blood sugar reactions.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007