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Message |
Tom
Member Username: Dad
Post Number: 1 Registered: 09-2010
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 - 06:22 pm: |
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Heart tx 6 weeks ago. Now diabetes. Any of you had islet cell transplant to rx diabetes after transplant? |
Karen R.
Forum Leader Username: Relivkaren
Post Number: 4791 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 - 09:28 pm: |
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Tom: Welcome to Transplant Buddies! Congratulations on your new heart transplant. Yes - many people get drugged induced diabetes post transplant. I have been blessed not to have diabetes. I do watch my diet very closely, but as some will tell you that doesn't always work. I am sure that you will hear from others that have had the same issues that you are dealing with. Many people find that once the meds are reduced or adjusted that the diabetes improves or goes away. Not always, but diabetes can be managed with meds and diet. I hope you continue to visit. We look forward to getting to know you. God Bless!
Karen Dx: BOOP - May 2006. Rediagnosed with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Nov. 2006 Double lung transplant on Dec. 1st, 2009 Cleveland Clinic Ohio, USA Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. |
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BreathinSteven
Forum Leader Username: Breathinsteven
Post Number: 2148 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, September 06, 2010 - 09:38 pm: |
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Hi Tom! Where did you hear that islet cell transplant would work post transplant for what is likely transplant medication related diabetes? I'd never really heard anyone suggest that before... I was diagnosed diabetic about 10 weeks post transplant -- though my blood glucose levels were all over the place from immediately after transplant... My guess is that I was most highly impacted by the prednisone -- but the Prograf/tacrolimus is often a contributing factor as well... My vague understanding is that we've got a kinda double-whammy going -- the drugs may inhibit our insulin production -- and they often also increase our insulin resistance... Our pancreas may still be pumping out insulin, though maybe not as much as we need -- and our cells are blocking it from being used properly... I've been on insulin therapy for 10 years now -- since weeks after my transplant... Currently, I'm on Lantus and Humalog... As Karen pointed out -- my insulin needs reduced drastically when they reduced my meds 6-12 months out -- but mine did not go away... I've known many other recipients who no longer needed insulin months or even a year or two after transplant... I would be interested in hearing where you heard that islet cell transplant was a possible solution post organ transplant to address this kind of diabetes... Let us know... Love, Steve
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