Pancreatic transplantation  Mr Murat Akyol, Consultant
Transplant Surgeon, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh  What is the
pancreas and why is it transplanted?  The pancreas is an organ
inside the abdomen that consists of two different types of
tissue with two separate functions. Most of the pancreas is a
gland that produces a fluid rich in chemicals that help you to
digest food. About 2-3% of the pancreas consists of clusters
(tiny islands or islets) of cells that secrete small amounts of
hormones into the blood stream. The most important of these
hormones is insulin. A lack of insulin causes diabetes. Pancreas
transplants are performed to treat diabetes.  Are there
different types of diabetes?  The blood sugar level is
controlled by insulin. There are two types of diabetes which
occur when the body is either unable to produce insulin or is
unable to respond to it.  Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
(IDDM or type I diabetes) tends to occur in children and young
adults. It happens because of the destruction of in