March 1, 2024- People who are overall healthy and living with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes can donate a kidney, thanks to a change in national policy. Nearly 89,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for a potentially lifesaving kidney transplant, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. The average wait for a kidney from a deceased donor is three to five years, according to Mayo Clinic.
The national policy allows people with Type 2 diabetes to donate a kidney if there is no evidence of organ damage or an unacceptable lifetime risk of complications. Mayo Clinic Transplant Center adopted its own more stringent policies to minimize potential risks for the donor. In addition to national criteria, Mayo Clinic patients with Type 2 diabetes also must meet the following criteria to be a donor.