Physician Dr. Willa Hsueh is director of the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center at the Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center. In this role, Dr. Willa Hsueh leads an expert team focused on innovative research aimed at curing diabetes and obesity. In the United States, diabetes is an epidemic that affects more than 25 million people or 8 percent of the population. In Ohio, the rate of diabetes is 10.1 percent, which is higher than the national average.
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.
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.