Islet transplant programme - how it works

THE Scottish Islet Transplant Programme was launched in November 2009.

Islet cells - which produce insulin needed to regulate blood sugar levels - are extracted from the pancreas of a deceased donor.

The process of isolating the cells is a very complex, labour-intensive procedure carried on in a completely sterile environment at a laboratory in Edinburgh.

Once processed, the cells are injected into the liver of the patient under local anaesthetic, with X-rays used to guide the surgeons.

After two to three days in hospital, patients can go home and hopefully will no longer need insulin injections.