Depending upon how badly the pancreas functions there are two problems. The first is that food is poorly absorbed, which causes weight loss, and there is diarrhoea, often rather fatty as the undigested fat causes pale, bulky and smelly motions. The second is, if too little insulin is made, diabetes develops with frequent passage of urine and weight loss. These two problems need not occur together. This is an inherited disorder which affects primarily the lungs, but also causes loss of panreatic function.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and can be a very unpleasant and serious illness.
Approximately 10,000 cases of acute pancreatitis occur in the United Kingdom every year. The symptoms of acute pancreatitis are severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting. The pain may be felt in the back and the patient feels very unwell. Fortunately, three out of four cases of pancreatitis settle down without any specific. It is usual to rest the pancreas by not allowing the patient to eat anything until it has settled.