Insulin independence and normalization of oral glucose tolerance test after islet cell allotransplantation

To achieve permanent normoglycemia in patients with type I diabetes, it is necessary to renew the insulin-producing P-cells by transplantation of eith er a vascularized pancreatic graft or isolated islets of Langerhans. Presen tly, about 10 % of patients with type I diabetes undergoing islet allotrans plantation achieve insulin independence; however, glucose intolerance remai ns in the majority of cases. We report a case of long-term insulin independ ence after islet allotransplantation in a type I diabetic patient. Three ye ars after islet transplantation, the patient remains insulin-independent wi th a normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The patient therefore no lo nger meets the World Health Organization criteria for the diagnosis of diab etes mellitus and demonstrates that islet transplantation can cure diabetes in type I diabetic patients.