Can you live without a pancreas?

Living without a pancreas is not easy; careful monitoring and medical care are required. You also have to make lifestyle changes to live without a pancreas. Doctors recommend pancreas removal when some serious conditions like pancreatic cancer or severe recurrent pancreatitis occur.

The pancreas controls blood sugar and helps in food digestion. After the surgery, you need to take medications to compensate for the pancreatic functions. So, the answer of the question, can you live without a pancreas is yes!

What pancreas does?

“The pancreas is a gland located in your abdomen, underneath your stomach”. The pancreatic head is round and curved into the duodenum, while the body is tapered, thinner, and lies between the stomach or spine. 

The pancreas possesses two cell types. These are exocrine and endocrine cells. Each cell is involved in the production of different substances.

Endocrine cells are responsible for the production of glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin. The insulin reduces your blood sugar level and increases glucagon levels. Whereas exocrine cells form enzymes that aid in food digestion in the intestine.

These enzymes are chymotrypsin, amylase, Trypsin, and Lipase. Lipase breaks fats while amylase digests carbohydrates. 

Why is pancreas removal necessary?

Conditions in which pancreas removal is required are:

 Chronic pancreatitis.  

This condition is characterized by inflammation, which can get worse over time. Surgery is most frequently recommended to relieve pancreatic pain. 

Pancreatic cancers

Pancreatic cancers like “adenocarcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors intraductal papillary neoplasms, duodenal cancer, and lymphoma” can develop.  These tumors can appear near or at the pancreas and can metastasize (tumor spread to other body parts). Surgery is recommended for metastatic tumors. 

Pancreatic injury

Sometimes, your pancreas can become damaged; in that case, the pancreas must be removed. 

Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. It is a condition in which insulin levels reach the highest level and your blood sugar drops to a minimum.

Living without a pancreas is not easy.

After pancreas removal, you need to make specific changes in your lifestyle.  

You can have diabetes because there will be no pancreas in your body to produce insulin. As mentioned above, insulin controls blood sugar, and that's why monitoring of insulin is essential. You will also have to take insulin according to the doctor's prescription. 

Your body will not make enzymes necessary for food digestion. You will also need an enzyme replacement pill for each food eating time.

Do exercise and stay active.  Exercise will improve your strength, and while a daily walk will help you control blood sugar levels. But  before starting any strenuous activity, consult with your doctor.

Follow a diabetic diet plan. You can eat a wide variety of foods, but you have to look for sugar and carbohydrate levels. Sugar must be avoided, and eat small meals throughout the day to manage your sugar levels. Always keep any glucose source in case your blood sugar level drops.