Complications of long-standing or untreated pancreatitis:

• Diabetes Mellitus: The inflammation can damage the cells of the pancreas which produce insulin secretion, resulting in DM.
• Malnutrition: Damage in pancreatic cells affects the secretion of digestive enzymes. Lack of enzymes results in less nutrient absorption and indigestion. This leads to malnutrition, diarrhea, and weight loss.
• Pancreatic cancer: Long-term inflammation makes the cells prone to scarring of the tissue. This might be a risk factor for developing pancreatic cancer.
• Pseudocyst: Acute pancreatitis can cause fluid and debris retention in the pancreatic cells leading to its infection known as a pseudocyst. It can burst and infect the pancreas and also lead to internal bleeding

What is the treatment for Pancreatitis?

• The infected pancreas needs antibiotics.
• Food intake is not up to the mark, thus intravenous fluids are given.
• There is indigestion, Hence a low-fat diet or liquid diet is preferable

Indian Diet plan for Pancreatitis

Dietary Management

Acute or chronic pancreatitis treatment includes some similar dietary tips.

• The digestion and absorption of nutrients are affected because of the defect in pancreatic enzyme activity.
• Lack of fat digestion might also lead to fatty stool or steatorrhoea. Thus, a low-fat diet is apt in pancreatitis patients.

Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Food List

Food to Eat:

Here is a list of foods to include in the Pancreatic Diet. The diet for managing pancreatitis has to be moderate in protein, with low fat, as well as a moderate amount of complex carbohydrates.

• Proteins: Consume a moderate amount of lean protein or good quality proteins. Include lean chicken, fish, low-fat milk and products, egg whites, nuts, soyabean, lentils, dals, sprouts, and beans.
• Fats: Consume low-fat milk and products, good quality fats, MCT oils like coconut oil, or ghee.
• Carbohydrates: Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables. Include whole-grain cereals, millets, bran, as well as unrefined flours.
• Antioxidant-rich foods: Include enough fruits, vegetables, nuts that contain antioxidants. It reduces stress on the pancreas and helps in better recovery and prognosis.

Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Food List

Foods to avoid

• High-fat foods: Avoid fatty, fried foods. As well as organ meat, and junk as it contains a very high amount of fats.Avoid full-fat milk and its products. A high-fat diet puts a load on pancreatic enzyme secretion and action. Avoid trans fats in the diet.
• Refined foods: Junk, refined flours, sugar, as well as all strained juices demand for pancreatic enzymes for digestion and absorption.

Indian Diet plan for Acute Pancreatitis

In Acute pancreatitis, the patients are initially kept NBM (nil by mouth ). When the pain and symptoms subside, (nausea, vomiting or GI disturbances), we start with a liquid diet. Start with soft food only when the liquid diet is well accepted by the body.

Sample Diet for Acute Pancreatitis: (Liquid diet)

• Early Morning: Lemon Water (No sugar)
• Breakfast: 1 glass Coconut water
• Lunch: Blended dal
• Evening Snack: Mix vegetable and fruit juice Or buttermilk
• Dinner: Blended rawa Kanji
• Bed Time: Low fat Almond milk with turmeric

Diet plan for Chronic Pancreatitis:

Chronic pancreatitis requires a normal low-fat diet with changes or modifications according to the symptoms.

Sample Diet for Chronic Pancreatitis:

• Early Morning: 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 cup water
• Breakfast: 1 cup Green Tea + 2 Steamed idli or 1 Plain Dosa with sambar/ 2 Scrambled eggs
• Mid-Morning: 1 Fruit
• Lunch: 1 cup Vegetable Soup + 2 Chapati + 1 cup Vegetable/ 2 egg whites + 1 cup Low fat Curd
• Mid Afternoon: 1 cup Steamed rice + 1 cup Dal
• Evening Snack: 1 cup low-fat Milk + 1 cup Upma or Rawa Appam
• Dinner: 1 cup Soft cooked Rice + 1 cup Sambar + 1 cup vegetable juice
• Bed Time: 1 cup low-fat milk

What to Eat After Pancreatitis Episode:

• The first rule of pancreatitis is to avoid alcohol and smoking. Alcohol and smoking have a direct effect on pancreatic damage.
• Keep yourself hydrated at all times. Nausea vomiting or any gastric issues might lead to dehydration.
• Eat small frequent meals throughout the day. This decreases the load on the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis might require only a liquid diet initially and then a soft diet as the symptoms reduce. Chronic pancreatitis that occurs after repeated acute pancreatitis requires a low-fat diet under the guidance of professionals.
• Eat fruits and vegetables as normal but avoid excess fiber intake in a single meal. It might lead to bloating or any other gastric issue further worsening the pancreatitis symptoms.
• Use MCTs as a source of oil as it doesn’t require pancreatic enzymes for digestion. Coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or ghee would be the best option to use.
• Include multivitamin supplements along with the diet. The diet has to be low fat for faster recovery of the pancreas.

EndNote:

In eithercacute or chronic Pancreatitis, saving pancreatic function is the main aim. The role of diet in pancreatitis is to alleviate the symptoms and not put extra workload on the pancreas. The moderate protein, low-fat diet with a sufficient amount of fiber does the trick.