Dietary Therapy for People Suffering From Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic Pancreatitis results in severe pancreatic inflammation which does not heals or improves but just worsens with passing time, ultimately leading to permanent damage of the pancreas.This disease may result in a number of serious complications like-

· Ducts blockage that drains the gallbladder and pancreas, leading to jaundice and worsening pancreatitis bouts

· Upper intestine blockage

· Increases risk of pancreatic cancer

People suffering from Chronic Pancreatitis frequently complain of nausea bouts, bloating, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. This condition limits a person's food intake leading to malnutrition.

The disease may also lead to Steatorrhea, a condition in which fat passes with stool, resulting in vitamin deficiency in the body. In some of the cases, a person's pancreas stops producing digestive enzymes. In such a situation when body's digestive system becomes unable to digest proteins and other nutrients, oral pancreatic enzymes are prescribed to the patients helping in digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fats in the body. This is the main reason that most of the patients with Chronic Pancreatitis ailment suffer from malnutrition problem. The patient's body cannot digest the food consumed by them properly.

Glucose intolerance is another major problem faced by the patients, as Pancreas secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon which controls regulation of blood glucose in the body. Keeping blood glucose at normal levels is not the main aim of glucose management in case of chronic pancreatitis patients, as seen in other cases. Rather the main aim is to control glucose intolerance symptoms. While some people just require some lifestyle changes like regular exercise and diet modifications, other might be prescribed insulin injections.

Patients are usually prescribed a low-fat and high-carbohydrate diet. Patients find consuming six small meals every day causes much fewer symptoms as compared to three meals per day pattern. Individuals are often recommended Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil which is an easily digestible fat and also does not cause any symptoms. Vitamin B12 supplement is also prescribed to the patients as people suffering from chronic pancreatitis lack this vitamin in their body. Patients should keep themselves away from any kind of alcohol. They should consume plenty of fluids to protect their body from dehydration which may lead to increase in pain.

Other things which should be avoided includes-

· Desserts and baked food products containing high amount of fat

· Meats with high fat content

· Fried and oily food products

· Nuts and all seeds

· Whole fat milk and cream

· Crackers and snacks with high fat content

A diabetic diet is often prescribed to glucose intolerance people.

By Megha Kedia