Question

Can you live a normal life without a pancreas?

Answer 1

Function of the pancreas:

1. Beta-cells in the pancreas produce insulin hormone that helps to reduce blood sugar levels.
2. Alpha-cells produce glucagon and delta-cells produce somatostatin.
3. Glucagon helps to increase blood sugar levels.
4. So, both insulin and glucagon hormones are required to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Life without a pancreas:

1. In case of pancreatic cancer, a total pancreatectomy is done to remove the complete pancreas.
2. The pancreas produces important enzymes- pancreatic lipase, amylase, and protease for digestion.
3. The quality of life will get deteriorated as without a pancreas the person needs to take insulin injections and pancreatic enzyme pills.
4. So, it is possible to live without a pancreas but the quality of life will be minimised drastically, and dependency on medications also increases.