Pancreatic attack and right side pain

Milk has carbohydrates for the low blood sugar but also has fats. Fats could be a problem Trying something with carbs but no fats would be a reasonable approach. A cup of milk has 12 grams carbohydrates, but 4 0z fruit juice has 15 grams carbohydrates and no fats. A diabetes educator can help with the blood sugar issues, but you may need help also from a dietician with experience with pancreatic diseases as well. I have had the benefit of a hepatobiliary dietician who has helped me with regulating the deficiency of pancreatic enzymes with Creon.

A continuous glucose monitoring system such as the Libre or Dexcom system can give an alarm for low blood sugar. Insurance might not cover if you are not taking insulin, Medicare only covers if you take insulin multiple doses. The systems can give an alarm for low blood sugar, you can set the level of the alarm to give a warning before you get down to very low levels and that might help to even things out for you.

Diet can be a struggle. Digestive issues have greatly affected my quality of life even though I had a good response to chemotherapy and was able to have surgery.

Dairy contains the milk sugar lactose. It is not unusual for someone to develop lactose intolerance after the Whipple. I have come across a few that developed it and no one initially realized what was still causing pain and discomfort after starting pancrealipase to address a difficiency in digestive enzymes as a result of the head of the tumor being resected. Check with the GI, Pancreas or Hepatobiliary Department where you had the Whipple and ask to have a consult with a Registered Dietitian. They likely have the credential CSO (Certification Specialist Oncology). It signifies they have an additional 2,000 hours of academic coursework as well as practical experience addressing the needs not only of Whipple and GI cancers patients, but with many who have co-morbidities such as diabetes, lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity and require special diets. They are an important member of one’s multidisciplinary care team and I was never charged for their services.

Slight clarification, as I understand it, from the cdrnet.org website: "For initial certification or recertification: Documentation of 2,000 hours of practice experience as an RD in the specialty area within the past five years. The five-year mark is a threshold and not a requirement. You only need to document as far back as it took to earn the required 2,000 hours, not to exceed five years from the date the application is submitted."

Re lactose intolerance, I don't know anything about it in relation to pancreas conditions, but two of my kids are lactose intolerant. (All of my kids are Asian, and I'm just waiting for the last two to trend this way as well.) There are a lot of resources and foods out there to accommodate lactose intolerance, so if that is the diagnosis, you'll have some exploring to do but should find plenty of possibilities to help you.