Pancreas is a crucial organ our body needs for proper digestion and blood sugar level regulation. However, there are some life-threatening diseases that may occur in the pancreas, and health experts may need to remove it entirely to save their patient’s life. But is it possible for a human being to live without a pancreas? What will be the consequences as it plays a significant role in the functioning of the body?
Well, if you are also asking questions like, can you live without a pancreas or not? Then read this article; here, we will discuss everything that you should know about the subject.
What Role Does the Pancreas Play In The Body?
Before we jump into the topic of living without pancreas, let’s first understand its importance in our body.
The pancreas is considered one of the main organs in the human body. It is mainly divided into two parts: endocrine, that regulates hormones, and exocrine, that assists in digestion.
The endocrine pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which is vital for keeping blood sugar levels under control. On the other hand, the exocrine pancreas produces enzymes that assist in digesting food, primarily protein and helps the body absorb essential nutrients.
Can You Live Without Pancreas?
Because of the new medical advancements, it is now possible for an individual to live without a pancreas. However, please know that the surgery of removing the pancreas, known as pancreatectomy, comes at a cost.
When the pancreas is removed from the body, you will naturally develop diabetes as your body won’t be producing insulin, which is essential for controlling blood sugar levels. You will start to develop digestive issues as your body won’t have enough enzymes due to the absence of the pancreas (more on this in the upcoming sections).
Pancreatectomy can be done in two ways: removing the partial parts of your pancreas that are affected or removing it as a whole if it is necessary to save an individual’s life. When the whole pancreas is removed, it can lead to severe complications as some parts of other organs are also removed along with it. You will need to take medicines regularly in order to cope with such consequences of removing pancreas.
What Are Some Possible Reasons For Removing an Individual’s Pancreas?
There are many reasons for which the pancreas may need to be removed, which include the following:
- Chronic Pancreatitis – Chronic Pancreatitis is an infection of the pancreas that doesn’t go away quickly and keeps coming back. Sometimes, it also develops in the hereditary form, usually caused by genetic mutations. They stay for extended periods and also cause extreme pain to the individual. There are many treatments that are used to treat this condition; however, when none of them works, doctors may recommend removing the pancreas.
- Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) – IPMN is considered to be a precancerous condition in which lesions usually develop in the pancreas duct. There’s a high risk that IPMN may turn into pancreatic cancer, and due to that, your doctors may consider removing your pancreas.
- Cancer – This is one of the most severe health conditions, as anyone with it has a very low chance of surviving. As per the sources, less than 10 percent of people with Pancreatic cancer can live for more than five years. If you have multiple tumours or have an underlying health issue in the pancreas, then your doctor is likely to remove your pancreas.
What Can You Expect After Pancreas Is Removed?
Once your pancreas is removed, you are likely to stay in the hospital for the next upcoming days. The exact period will be determined by your overall health condition. The pain after the surgery will also be there, which can last longer periods before going away.
Your health experts will also advise you to make some adjustments to your diet. For instance, you will have to stay on a liquid diet after a few days of surgery and then slowly introduce solid food as your body builds tolerance. You will also need to limit or avoid consuming raw vegetables and fruits initially and increase them slowly as tolerated.
Blood Sugar Levels
As a result of a removed pancreas, you will be diagnosed with diabetes, as there’s no other organ that can produce insulin and assist in controlling your blood sugar levels. Due to that, you will need to take insulin to control your blood sugar level.
Your doctor will provide you with specific guidelines which will help you in controlling your blood sugar levels. For instance, one of the main practices they recommend is checking blood sugar levels several times daily. It helps control blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of several complications.
Digestive Issues
You may also experience digestive issues as your body won’t be able to make the necessary enzymes to digest the food. For that reason, your doctor will recommend you take pills that work as a replacement for the enzymes. You will need to take them each time you eat.
Due to digestive issues, you must watch out for your diet and focus on consuming low-sugar and healthy carbs. Your doctor will provide all the details on which foods you should eat and which ones to avoid. Your doctor may also recommend you eat small meals throughout the day to control your blood sugar levels.
You may also have to give up on greasy and fried food as it can be challenging for your body to digest and may also cause numerous complications.
Conclusion
So, now we hope that you have got the answer to your question of can you live without pancreas. It is an essential organ of our body that plays vital roles, like aiding digestion and controlling blood sugar levels.
However, when the pancreas is affected by some infection or disease, which can be life-threatening to an individual’s life, then doctors may recommend removing this organ. It definitely leads to a low quality of life, still, depending on the condition, a person can survive for a decent period without a pancreas if they follow a healthy lifestyle and all the guidelines provided by their health expert.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can the pancreas heal itself?
No. According to the sources, the pancreas cannot heal itself. However, a good medical treatment can help reduce its overall damage and enhance an individual’s quality of life.
Is pancreas removal a major surgery?
Yes, it is generally considered a major surgery that brings numerous risks. Talk to your health experts to learn about the risks and how they will manage them.
What is life expectancy without a pancreas?
If a person has any advanced pancreatic cancer, then they will have a life expectancy of only two years after the surgery. However, anyone with a non-cancer pancreas they are likely to have an expectancy of seven years after surgery.
