Pancreatitis, diabetes, cancer: What symptoms may indicate pancreatic disease?

January 12, 2020  11:23

Constant thirst, frequent urination, back and stomach pains, and visual impairment can be symptoms of pancreatic diseases, said Hana Algul, a specialist in gastrointestinal cancer.

According to the expert, recently pancreatic diseases - pancreatitis, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer - have been increasingly diagnosed.

Both acute and chronic pancreatitis occur today more often than ten years ago,  she said adding that the 10-15% of patients even develop severe pancreatitis, in which the likelihood of developing life-threatening complications is from 30 to 40%.

The number of cases of pancreatic cancer is also growing.

What symptoms may indicate pancreatic disease?

The most common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, and visual impairment.

Simple blood tests can quickly determine if you have diabetes and begin appropriate treatment for this chronic disease, she said adding that two other diseases of the pancreas - pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer - are characterized by rather nonspecific pain.

Another symptom that can occur with pancreatitis and pancreatic carcinoma - the pancreas begins to put pressure on the bile duct, which runs along it. Occlusion of the bile ducts leads to jaundice with yellowing of the eyeballs and skin.

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