Wexner Medical Center is home to an innovative Islet Cell Transplant Program (ICTP), which focuses on research to aid patients with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, beta cells within islets in the pancreas do not make insulin, which is why patients with the disease need insulin shots. However, research has shown that a transfer of working islets from an organ donor to a patient with Type 1 diabetes can allow the patient to live without insulin injections. In addition, islet cell transfer can decrease hypoglycemic episodes and may decrease development of other diabetes-related complications.
While studies have validated the effectiveness of the procedure, the research program at Wexner Medical Center aims to validate long-term islet cell performance and patient survival rates. Patients who have Type 1 diabetes, along with severe hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic episodes, may be good candidates for islet cell transfer procedure.