Reversal of secondary complications of type 1 diabetes (nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiopathy)

Abstract Hyperglycemia is the main pathogenic factor underlying the development of secondary complications of diabetes. Pancreas transplantation (PTx), either alone or combined with kidney transplantation, rapidly restores euglycemia in insulin-dependent diabetic individuals. This chapter will review the effects of PTx on the main microvascular and macrovascular secondary complications of diabetes, namely nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiomyopathy. Although PTx provides some early benefits and halts the progression of certain complications, long-term euglycemia after PTx alone is needed to improve several outcomes.