Expanding living kidney donor pool for patients with type 2 diabetes

More than 90,000 people in the United States are waiting for a kidney transplant, and demand outstrips available supply, highlighting the critical importance of identifying safe ways to expand the kidney donor pool. .

Dr. Naim Issa, a Mayo Clinic transplant nephrologist, says that until recently, people with type 2 diabetes were excluded from being potential living kidney donors. Now, following strict criteria, some patients may be eligible to help fill the gap in the ever-growing need for living kidney donors.

Every eight minutes, one person is added to the national kidney transplant waiting list.

“Unfortunately, in this country, there is a huge gap between the demand for kidney transplants and the supply of organs from deceased donors,” Dr. Issa says. Dialysis is an option for patients with end-stage renal disease. Although Dr. Issa says a transplant is preferred and best done with a living donor.

“Kidney transplants have a survival benefit and extend the lives of people who need kidney transplants,” he says.

And that’s why expanding the pool of eligible kidney donors is important.

“Allowing patients with type 2 diabetes to be admitted could open the door for some people who were previously ineligible to potentially become living kidney donors,” Dr. Issa says.

Criteria for Living Kidney Donors with Type 2 Diabetes

Participants must be 60 years of age or older, have well-controlled type 2 diabetes, not use insulin, and have no family history of kidney disease.

“Anyone who wants to become a candidate for living kidney donation should undergo a very thorough health assessment and thorough exam to ensure they are healthy enough,” Dr. Issa said. To tell.

It’s about helping bridge the gap while protecting the overall health of potential donors.