Post Transplant Follow-up
Being regular with follow-up tests and visits to the transplant team are most important to make any transplant a success.
Pancreas transplant recipients need life-long follow-up, very frequently initially, and less-often later, as per the advise of their transplant team. Once the reports become stable and medicines well-adjusted, patients can email their reports and visit the clinic once in 3-6 months.
Outstation patients should identify a local physician and nephrologist for an urgent situation.
Patients should maintain a file and keep tab of all the laboratory reports, blood sugar levels and insulin requirement in chronological order from the time of discharge and bring this file during every clinic visit.
Watching blood glucose level
A newly transplanted pancreas starts making insulin right on the operation table and the blood sugar levels normalize shortly after surgery. However, in some rare cases, Insulin may be needed for a short time after transplant. It is necessary for the patient to monitor his blood sugar at home. After transplant, blood sugars need to be checked four times a day for a few weeks, then two times a day for a few weeks until directed to change by the transplant team. If any blood sugars are greater than 250 mg/dl for 24 hours or, greater than 400 mg/dl at any time or, less than 80mg/dl at any time, call your transplant team immediately.
