The demand for kidney transplants in the United States exceeds the supply, with over 90,000 people currently waiting for a transplant. However, recent findings suggest that individuals with Type 2 diabetes, previously considered ineligible as living kidney donors, may now be able to contribute. To be eligible, donors must be over 60 years old, have well-controlled Type 2 diabetes, not be on insulin, and have no family history of kidney disease. Dr. Naim Issa of the Mayo Clinic cautions that potential donors should undergo a comprehensive health assessment and examination.
While dialysis is an option for those with end-stage kidney disease, doctors prefer transplants, especially from living donors. A living donor transplant offers better survival rates and increases the lifespan of individuals in need of a kidney. This highlights the need to expand the pool of eligible donors. Every eight minutes, someone in the US is added to the national kidney transplant waiting list, further emphasizing the urgency of finding solutions to address the current shortage.
