Getting a donor’s heart, liver, kidney, lung, or other organ can be life-saving. Sometimes organ transplants can also lead to type 2 diabetes.
The risk is not clear to experts, but more than 10% of patients may be affected. In transplant recipients, diabetes is more dangerous, raising the risk of organ rejection and dangerous infections. But diabetes is treatable.
Why do organ transplants cause diabetes?
After an organ transplant, you need to take medications for the rest of your life so that your body does not reject the donor organ. These drugs help make the transplant successful, but many of them, such as tacrolimus or steroids, can cause diabetes or make it worse.
In addition to these drugs, the risk of developing diabetes is higher if the following factors are present.
- Obesity.
- Obesity.
- Family history of diabetes.
- African or Latino descent.
- Age over 40 years old.
- Hepatitis C.
- Hepatitis C.
- Hepatitis C.
Consult your doctor if you think you are at higher risk of developing diabetes. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that have a lower risk of diabetes.
Does diabetes persist?
Diabetes after transplantation may go away if the doctor changes or lowers the dose of anti-rejection medication. Most patients can stop taking steroids about 6 months after transplant. This may resolve the diabetes.
When diabetes occurs in transplant patients, medications may be needed to control the disease. Lifestyle changes can also help control diabetes. Strategies include the following.
- Healthy diet.
- Control blood sugar.
- Exercise.
- Regular treatment.