Both drugs can damage the kidneys. For example, using either of these medicines for many years could increase your risk for some cancers. Because of these risks, kidney transplants are done only in people whose kidneys are failing. Pancreas transplants are nearly always done only in people with type 1 diabetes who are getting or already have a transplanted kidney. If scientists can develop safe immunosuppressants that always work, then many people with type 1 diabetes may choose to have pancreas transplants.
Islets are clusters of cells in the pancreas that make insulin.
In people with type 1 diabetes, islets cells are destroyed. Only 1 to 2 percent of the pancreas is made up of islet cells. Transplanting islet cells has several advantages over transplanting a pancreas. Unlike the pancreas transplant, an islet transplant is a minor surgical procedure, is less expensive, and is probably safer. Hopefully one day soon, scientists may learn how to protect these cells from attack by the immune system.