Can You Live Without a Pancreas? Surviving After Pancreatectomy

The Pancreas and Its Vital Role

The pancreas serves extremely important functions in digestion and blood sugar regulation. So when problems with the pancreas arise, big questions come up. Can you live without a pancreas at all?

What the Pancreas Does

The pancreas has two main jobs in the human body:

1. It makes and releases digestive enzymes into the intestines to help digest foods, especially fats and proteins.
2. It produces insulin and glucagon hormones crucial for controlling blood sugar balance.

Where the Pancreas Is Located

The pancreas sits behind and below the stomach. This glandular organ is about 6 inches long, oblong shaped, and tucked between other digestive organs.

Can You Survive Without Specific Pancreas Functions?

If diseases like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer damage parts of the pancreas, only certain functions may fail while other parts still operate normally. What happens then?

Living Without Digestive Capabilities

The digestive enzymes made in the pancreas (lipase, amylase, trypsin chymotrypsin) are extremely helpful for breaking down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. But people can generally live without them.

Individuals who lose these digestive functions can substitute commercial enzyme supplements taken with meals. This allows normal absorption of nutrients through an adaptive process called "pancreatic insufficiency."

Living Without Blood Sugar Regulation

In contrast, insulin and glucagon are mandatory for life. These pancreatic hormones manage the metabolism and stability of blood glucose in the body.

Without insulin, blood sugar has no way to exit the bloodstream and be utilized for energy inside cells. Blood glucose levels then rise out of control, resulting in type 1 diabetes.

People who have lost normal pancreatic endocrine function simply cannot produce enough insulin on their own. They must then receive replacement insulin through daily injections or an insulin pump to stay alive.

Total Pancreatectomy Surgery

In extreme cases of cancers or pancreatitis spread throughout the pancreas, surgeons may remove the entire pancreas. This total pancreatectomy surgery is a last resort option.

Having your whole pancreas taken out leaves you completely deficient in insulin, glucagon, digestive enzymes, and other pancreatic metabolites your body needs.

Still, it does not necessarily make life after surgery impossible. Advanced medical support can make up for what the body then lacks.

Replacing Missing Insulin

Patients without a pancreas require prompt insulin therapy to stabilize blood glucose post-surgery. Taking insulin multiple times a day becomes essential any time food is consumed.

Blood sugar monitoring must continue around the clock as well. Both patient and medical staff have to remain vigilant for signs of low or very high glucose levels due to the complete loss of normal regulation.

Enzyme Supplementation

As for supporting digestion, prescribed pancreatic enzyme supplement capsules replace what the organ previously contributed to proper nutrient breakdown and absorption.

Taking the correct amounts of enzymes during or after eating can prevent some of the nutritional deficiencies and unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects that might otherwise occur.

Dietary Considerations

Closely regulating the diet also helps smooth life after total pancreatectomy surgery. Eating smaller meals more frequently can help minimize blood sugar swings.

Avoiding high fat foods makes digestion easier even with enzyme support. And restricting concentrated sweets prevents sharp rises or crashes in glucose levels.

Long Term Outcomes Without a Pancreas

So while technically possible to "live without a pancreas" thanks to modern medicine, the road after surgery remains challenging. Some issues that can arise include:

Brittle Diabetes

Balancing insulin dosing when no natural pancreatic capability remains often leads to wider glucose fluctuations outside the normal healthy range. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia episodes become more prevalent.

This volatile type of diabetes typically requires more care management and is riskier for long term complications than milder forms of diabetes.

Maldigestion and Malabsorption

Despite prescription enzyme therapy post-surgery, incomplete breakdown of fats, proteins and carbs eaten may still frequently occur. Nutrient absorption problems typically result as well.

Ongoing gastrointestinal troubles like abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, diarrhea or steatorrhea (excess fat in stool) can diminish nutrition status and quality of life without a pancreas.

Increased Risk of Bone Fractures

Various deficiencies after total pancreatectomy often lead to weaker bone density over time. The likelihood of easy fracturing then rises, especially for fragile bones in older adults.

Greater Infection Vulnerability

The development of diabetes-related immune deficiencies plus more variable blood sugars are known to increase susceptibility to all kinds of infections.

From urinary tract infections to skin problems to oral issues, people living without a pancreas often battle more than their share of bacterial, viral and fungal infections as years pass.

Coping Without a Pancreas

Though certainly challenging, surviving without pancreatic function is possible for many if appropriate long-term medical management steps are followed consistently after surgery.

Take Enzyme Doses Correctly

Always remember prescribed enzyme supplements before or during meals and snacks. Note proper timing and amounts.

Check Blood Glucose Regularly

Monitor your own blood sugar levels per medical advice, from 4-6 times a day, using either glucose testing strips or a continuous glucose monitor.

Administer Insulin as Directed

Correctly dose, time, and rotate injection sites for any insulin therapy. Use pens, syringes or pumps cautiously to avoid errors.

Communicate with Your Healthcare Team

Report concerning low or high glucose patterns, stomach troubles, or symptoms of infection promptly so adjustments in care can be made.

Living without a real functioning pancreas brings unavoidable health impacts. But with dedication to treatment fundamentals, as normal a life as possible can continue.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.