The following inclusion/exclusion criteria are guidelines and provide an outline of your suitability for the islet transplant program.
Inclusion criteria
To be eligible for the program, you should:
- Be aged between 18-70 years old
- Have had type 1 diabetes for more than 5 years
- Have severe and frequent hypoglycaemic episodes
- Have lack of awareness of hypoglycaemia (with blood sugar levels <3) indicated by more than two episodes of severe hypoglycaemia requiring third party assistance OR more than two episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the last year
- Have failed intensive insulin therapy (e.g. three injections/d or insulin pump) with testing four times/day, monitored by an endocrinologist or GP
- Be capable of understanding the procedure and its risks, and able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
You may not be eligible for the program if you have any of the following:
- Established diabetic nephropathy Creatinine clearance <80ml/min or albuminuria >300 mg/day
- Untreated proliferative retinopathy
- Untreated/active cardiac disease including recent AMI
- Chronic infections e.g. HIV, TB, Hep B or C
- Cancer (except treated skin SCC or BCC)
- Psychiatric disorder/substance abuse/history of or anticipated non-compliance
- Pregnancy, intention to become pregnant, or failure to follow a medically reliable method of avoiding conception
- BMI > 27 kg/m2 or body weight > 90 kg