On the waiting list for a pancreas
If your pancreas is no longer working properly, a transplant may be necessary. You can then be placed on the waiting list.
The pancreas helps with digesting food and regulating your blood sugar. In the case of a serious illness, a transplant may be the only solution.
Who is eligible for a transplant?
You are eligible for a new pancreas if you have severe type 1 diabetes and kidney failure, or if your diabetes is so difficult to regulate that it becomes life-threatening. You will receive a pancreas from a deceased donor.
Sometimes your doctor and you will choose a transplant of the islets of Langerhans. These islets produce hormones that regulate your blood sugar.
People with pancreas problems often also receive a donor kidney. This can be done in one operation, or sequentially.
What does an islet of Langerhans transplant involve?
The islets of Langerhans are located in the pancreas. There, they produce insulin: an essential hormone that regulates blood sugar.
In an islet transplant, the islets of Langerhans are removed from a donor pancreas to be transplanted. In an islet transplant, the donor islets go to the liver via an IV. There, they should ideally start producing insulin. Sometimes it is necessary to transplant islets from multiple pancreases.
When do you get on the waiting list?
You are only placed on the waiting list once you have completed all medical examinations and are physically and mentally fit enough for surgery. The risks of the surgery must not be too great. The transplant center will place your details on the international Eurotransplant waiting list.
How many people are waiting for a pancreas?
As of July 31, 2025, there were 34 people on the active waiting list for a pancreas.
Below you will find the current waiting list figures. Look in the table at the top right (latest monthly figures) in the 'Transplantable' column.
How long do I have to wait?
It is impossible to predict how long you will have to wait for a transplant. The waiting time depends on factors such as the number of people on the waiting list, how many organs become available, and whether the donor pancreas is a match for you.
This depends on factors including:
- Your blood type.
- Whether you have antibodies against certain donors.
Explanatory video about the waiting list
After the transplant
A transplant is a major operation. You need time to recover physically and mentally.
How long does a donor pancreas last?
Most people who have had a pancreas transplant feel much better in the first few years after the transplant.
- The risk of rejection is highest in the first year. That sounds daunting, but adjusting the medication often helps. Usually, the pancreas continues to function normally after that.
- After 5 years, about 77% of donor pancreases are still functioning well.
- If the new pancreas stops working, you will have to start injecting insulin again. Sometimes a person may then be eligible for a second transplant.
More information
Do you have questions about your own situation? Ask your doctor; they know your medical situation best.
Which hospitals perform pancreas transplants?
Patient associations and health funds