[Islets of Langerhans transplantation]

The objective of future therapy of type 1 diabetes is to prevent the development of the chronic complications of the disease, while reducing the constraints imposed by treatment and eliminating the risk of hypoglycaemia. In other words, the aim is to ensure automatic glycaemic control like the normal pancreas. We can then talk about a cure for diabetes. There are currently two therapeutic solutions to obtain perfect glucose control without hypoglycaemia or day-to-day constraints (at least the major ones): the biological solution with transplantation of islets of Langerhans (which contain the insulin producing beta cells) and the electromechanical solution with an implantable artificial pancreas. This article discusses the first solution.