On the waiting list for a pancreas
If your pancreas no longer works properly, a transplant may be necessary. You can then be put on the waiting list.
The pancreas helps digest food and regulate your blood sugar. In case of a severe 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 control that it becomes life-threatening. You will receive a pancreas from a deceased donor.
Sometimes your doctor, together with you, chooses 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 a single operation, or consecutively.
What does a transplantation of the islets of Langerhans involve?
The islets of Langerhans are located in the pancreas. There they produce insulin: an indispensable hormone that regulates blood sugar.
In an islet transplantation, the islets of Langerhans are extracted from a donor pancreas to be transplanted. In an islet transplantation, the donor islets go to the liver via an infusion. Ideally, they will start producing insulin there. Sometimes it is necessary to transplant islets from multiple pancreases.
When do you get on the waiting list?
You will only be 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 puts 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?
How long you have to wait for a transplant is impossible to predict. The waiting time depends, among other things, on 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, among other things, on:
- Your blood type.
- Whether you have antibodies against certain donors.
Explainer video about the waiting list
After the transplant
A transplant is a major surgery. You need time to recover physically and mentally.
How long does a donor pancreas last?
Most people who have had a pancreas transplant feel a lot better in the first years after the transplant.
- In the first year, the risk of rejection is greatest. That sounds daunting, but adjusting the medications often helps. Usually, the pancreas just keeps working 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 then becomes eligible for a second transplant.
More information
Do you have questions about your own situation? Ask your doctor, who knows your medical situation best.
Which hospitals perform pancreas transplants?
Patient associations and health funds