Pancreas transplant ends years of frustration for an Iowa family
While he was between the ages of 13 and 30, Allen Shullaw could literally never be left alone.

"Allen had to be watched at all times because of the brittleness of his diabetes," said his father, Lonne Shullaw. "His blood sugars were totally uncontrollable and would often drop abruptly to dangerously low levels. All of Allen's doctors over the years were amazed at how rapidly his blood sugars would rise and fall and tried everything possible to control the problem by constantly changing his insulin regimen and diet."

If the insulin levels weren't precisely controlled, Shullaw experienced violent seizures. This was a result of Type 1 diabetes, which usually strikes people under 25 years old. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces very little insulin. When insulin is not produced in adequate amounts, sugars cannot be balanced in the body and diabetes results.

"I tried my best to control (the diabetes) by taking my blood tests and giving myself insulin shots," Shullaw said. "I ate what mom, dad, and the doctors told me to, except that once in a while I think I might have cheated a little bit by sneaking a bite of a candy bar or something sweet."

Shullaw's diabetes, combined with a severe learning disability, made finding free time difficult for the family. His father spent a great deal of his time on the road at work, so his mother, Betty, often stayed home to care for her son. "She had many harrowing experiences," Lonne Shullaw recalled. "For example, she had to take blood tests every hour on the hour for 24 solid hours on many occasions. At times she seldom slept at all because of Allen's seizures." When Lonne Shullaw retired in 1992, the family bought a home near Eddyville, Iowa, where the parents were able to split the watches over their son.

Finally, the family's luck began to change. In 1997, their family physician, Gerald L. Haas, D.O., of the Monroe County Professional Clinic, LLP, in Albia, referred them to James McCallum, M.D., an endocrinologist with the Iowa Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Des Moines. Despite many different insulin shot regimens, Shullaw's blood sugars had never been well controlled.

"Allen was one of the most difficult to control patients I ever had," McCallum said. In July 2000, he recommended that Shullaw pursue a pancreas transplant at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A healthy pancreas will produce the right amount of insulin the body needs at any time. "Successful pancreas transplants offer patients a cure for Type I diabetes," said Stephen Rayhill, M.D., a transplant surgeon who leads University of Iowa Health Care's kidney/pancreas program. "They no longer require insulin, and they can eat whatever they want. Blood sugars are controlled normally."

Pancreas transplants, which have been successful more than 80 percent of the time at UI Hospitals and Clinics (well above the national average), prevent long-term complications of diabetes.

Shullaw's pancreas transplant was successfully completed April 11, 2001, by Daniel Katz, M.D., part of the UI Health Care transplant team. According to Katz, Shullaw's new pancreas began performing perfectly the moment it was attached.

"We tried for nearly 17 years to control Allen's diabetes and it consumed our lives," Lonne Shullaw said. "Now we are able to sleep through the night, something we hadn't been able to do for all those years. Allen can go for a walk by himself or to a movie. He can eat a piece of pie every now and then without feeling guilty or afraid.

"We will be forever grateful to all the UI Hospitals and Clinics staff for the personal regard they showed us at all times during our ordeal."

Patients and families with questions should call UI Health Access and ask for Transplant Coordinator Ann Satterly, R.N., in the Transplant Office, or call the office directly at 319-356-4778. Physicians seeking consultation or referral should contact Satterly using UI Consult.

Transplant Coordinator Ann Satterly, R.N. and transplant surgeons Stephen Rayhill, M.D. (director of kidney and pancreas transplantation), and Daniel Katz, M.D., lead the pancrease transplant team.

Allen Shullaw's life has improved dramatically thanks to a pancreas transplant for severe diabetes. With him are his parents Lonne and Betty Shullaw.