Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles in “Harriet the Spy” and “Gossip Girl,” has passed away due to complications related to Diabetes Mellitus, according to a statement released by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office on April 16.
The 39-year-old was found dead in her Manhattan apartment on February 26.
Shortly before her passing, the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star had reportedly undergone a liver transplant.
Initially, the family objected to an autopsy, but after further laboratory testing and review, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner updated the official cause of death.
“Following a review of laboratory results, the medical examiner has amended the determination of cause and manner of death,” the statement read.
Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Was the Transplant Linked to Her Death?
No additional health information was disclosed publicly at the time of her death.
However, on February 26, a source informed NBC New York that Michelle had undergone a liver transplant shortly before passing.
Diabetes is a known complication following organ transplantation. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a condition called New-Onset Diabetes After Transplantation (NODAT) can occur due to anti-rejection medications, which are necessary to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ.
“The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later confirmed that her cause of death was due to complications from Diabetes Mellitus, and classified it as natural. Initially, the cause of death remained uncertain due to religious objections from her family regarding an autopsy.”
These medications can alter the way the body processes blood sugar and ultimately lead to damage in the heart, eyes, and nerves, even in people who had no history of diabetes before the transplant.
Michelle Trachtenberg’s death mournful but also a reminder of the precarious state their surgery can leave so many patients in. Fans around the world continue to deeply cherish her legacy in film and television.