Islet transplantation for Type 1 diabetes: where are we now?

Pancreatic islet transplantation is a minimally invasive procedure that can restore normoglycemia and insulin independence in Type 1 diabetics without the surgical complications associated with vascularized pancreas transplantation. The advances made in this field over the past decade have dramatically improved patient outcomes, and the procedure is now transitioning from an experimental treatment to a clinical reality. Nonetheless, a number of important issues continue to hamper the success of islet transplantation and must be addressed before there is widespread clinical acceptance. These include the relative inefficiency of the islet isolation process, the progressive loss of islet function over time and the need for multiple donors to achieve insulin independence. Here, we discuss the current status of islet transplantation and examine its future as a treatment for Type 1 diabetes.