Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, has completed 25 pancreas transplants, strengthening access to this specialised treatment for patients with severe Type 1 diabetes and related complications.

The programme, led by Dr Suresh Raghavaiah, Senior Consultant – HPB & Multi-Organ Transplant Surgery, has involved a multidisciplinary team comprising transplant surgeons, nephrologists, diabetologists, anaesthetists, intensivists and other specialists. 

The 25 procedures include 24 simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK), & Karnataka’s only pancreas-after-kidney (PAK) transplant.

The milestone comes against the backdrop of India's growing diabetes burden. The latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas estimates that 89.8 million adults aged 20–79 in India were living with diabetes in 2024, with about 43% of cases estimated to be undiagnosed. 

The number is projected to rise to 156.7 million by 2050. 

Despite this large burden, pancreas transplantation remains a highly specialised and relatively uncommon procedure in India. NOTTO data recorded 44 pancreas transplants in the country in 2024, including six in Karnataka.

For carefully selected patients with severe Type 1 diabetes, pancreas transplantation can restore insulin production and reduce dependence on insulin therapy. When combined with a kidney transplant, it can also address kidney failure in patients with advanced diabetic complications.

Dr. Suresh Raghavaiah said “Pancreas transplantation can offer a major change in quality of life for appropriately selected patients, particularly those with severe diabetes and kidney failure. However, it is a complex procedure, and outcomes depend on careful patient selection, experienced teams and structured long-term follow-up.”

A 26-year-old patient treated at Apollo Hospitals Bengaluru had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 10. Over the years, he developed diabetic retinopathy, significant vision loss, neuropathy, hypoglycaemic unawareness and recurrent infections. At 24, he developed kidney failure and was placed on dialysis. 

He subsequently underwent a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant. One year later, he is no longer dependent on insulin or dialysis and has returned to a more independent routine. For him, the transplant has meant a significant change in both treatment and everyday life.

Akshay Oleti, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka Region, said the milestone represented more than a number. “Behind these 25 transplants are 25 patients with different medical histories and challenges. Our priority is to provide comprehensive and patient-centred care, from evaluation and transplantation to long-term follow-up.”