Upstate Upstate 's new transplant division chief discusses how pancreas transplants would benefit some people with diabetes. 's new transplant division chief discusses how pancreas transplants would benefit some people with diabetes. Rainer Gruessner, MD Rainer Gruessner, MD, explains that a new pancreas can provide a person with a normal blood sugar level and halt the development of diabetic complications, such as kidney failure. "It's life saving, but it's also life enhancing," he says of the operation. And, improvements in immunosuppressant medications make pancreas transplants an option for more people., explains that a new pancreas can provide a person with a normal blood sugar level and halt the development of diabetic complications, such as kidney failure. "It's life saving, but it's also life enhancing," he says of the operation. And, improvements in immunosuppressant medications make pancreas transplants an option for more people.