how long can you really live when a pancreas quits working?

Answer 1

I think this is related to diabetes? Well, if your pancreas stops working, you will require insulin, either from shots or an insulin pump. Your body cannot get the nutrients from food without proper levels of insulin. (Weight loss is a big symptom) Insulin helps in the digestive process and helps your cells get their required nutrients.

When you're diagnosed, it's scary, but you can still live a normal live. Test your blood sugar 6 times a day and try to get on the insulin pump.

Answer 2

You can actually live without your pancreas, though probably not too long without medical assistance.
If your pancreas were completely destroyed, your biggest immediate problem would be a complete lack of insulin, which would need to be replaced quickly (difficult to say how quickly, hours to days) or you would develop DKA (DiabeticKetoAcidosis), and eventually end up in a coma and then die. If you were to replace your insulin, you would have to be very careful of hypoglycemia because you can no longer produce glucagon, one of the important counter-regulatory hormones for insulin (it's effects are largely opposite to those of insulin).
Finally, you would be unable to digest foods well, especially fats, but we have replacement supplements for pancreatic enzymes as well.
All in all, life would be pretty hard, but not entirely impossible.

Answer 3

This is called type 1 diabetes! You can live a couple of months tops unless you inject insulin. Before insulin was discovered (only about 100 years ago) people used to eat weired diets of moss and other crazy things to prolong their lives but lost extreme amounts of weight before dying. This is still happening in some countries where children are not diagnosed or not treated for their diabetes because of a lack of doctors/hospitals/equipment near by. Without insulin your body cannot use carbohydrates so they build up in your blood. You start to use your fat and muscles for energy instead and their breakdown produces keetones as a bi-product. These are acidic and damage your organs (your blood turns acidic). Basically you die of starvation because you can't use the carbohydrates in your food, and of keetoacidosis (basically acidic blood). Thankfully for those of us with diabetes, we can inject insulin so that we don't die - it is still a major hassle and has serious long term health implications though! Unlike type 2 diabetes, no one knows what causes type 1.

Answer 4

I survived three to four months with it, and I was almost dead, if I had waited another day or two, I probably would have died they said. I have Type 1, so I was'nt getting insulin at all. I dropped twenty pounds, slept all the time, I had to pee all the time, drink a lot, (I never told anyone I thought something might have been wrong, i'm a stubborn type of person and I thought it was only a virus) then I came close to ketoacidosis and threw up all over the place. But, somehow I was fine for two weeks after, then I started to get REALLY sick to the point where my mom could tell I was sick and she brought me to the emergency room.

Answer 5

Cancer of the pancreas is a genetic disease which means that it is caused by changes (mutations) in DNA. These changes can be inherited (we are born with them) or they can be acquired (they develop after we are born). The inherited changes explain why cancer of the pancreas runs in some families, and the acquired changes can be the result of either bad luck during cell replication or by exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) such as those found in cigarette smoke. There are several risk factors that have been associated with pancreatic cancer.

Answer 6

I have a friend who has no pancreas at all, she manages her diet and monitors her blood sugar levels and insulin carefully, and she enjoys a fairly normal life and activity level-in fact, makes me feel lazy sometimes!

So I think the answer to your question will depend on how quickly your condition is diagnosed, and how committed you are to your treatment needs.

As for my friend, she is now a grandmother of 10, one of whom she is raising, and an inspiration to many.

Answer 7

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avt7T

Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in your pancreas develop genetic mutations. These mutations cause the cells to grow uncontrollably and to continue living after normal cells would die. These accumulating cells can form a tumor. Understanding your pancreas - Your pancreas is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and looks something like a pear lying on its side. The pancreas is a crucial part of your digestive system. It secretes hormones, including insulin, to help your body process sugar. And it produces digestive juices to help your body digest food. Types of pancreatic cancer - The types of cells involved in a pancreatic cancer help determine the best treatment. Types of pancreatic cancer include: Cancer that forms in the pancreas ducts (adenocarcinoma). Cells that line the ducts of the pancreas help produce digestive juices. The majority of pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas. Sometimes these cancers are called exocrine tumors. Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells. Cancer that forms in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas is called endocrine cancer. Endocrine cancers of the pancreas are very rare. PREVENTION: Although there's no proven way to prevent pancreatic cancer, you can take steps to reduce your risk, including: Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you quit, including support groups, medications and nicotine replacement therapy. If you don't smoke, don't start. Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of pancreatic cancer. If you need to lose weight, aim for a slow, steady weight loss — 1 or 2 pounds (0.5 or 1 kilogram) a week. Combine daily exercise with a plant-focused diet with smaller portions to help you lose weight. Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you're not used to exercising, start out slowly and work up to your goal. Eat a healthy diet. A diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables and whole grains is good for you, and may help reduce your risk of cancer. -

Answer 8

well i became diabetic type 1 when i was a child and i went 4 - 6 months and when i went in to hospital i was pretty bad but i could have survived a week or 2 at most.
but if you think you may have diabetes don't rely on the people on Yahoo! go and see a doctor!

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

You can live a normal life if you take your insulin, follow your prescribed diet, and check your blood levels frequently.