Category: exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency

When you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), you know how important it is to lead a healthy lifestyle. According to The National Pancreas Foundation, EPI develops when the pancreas isn’t able to produce enough pancreatic enzymes, which means you aren’t able to digest food effectively — especially fats and nutrients. This can cause symptoms such… Continue reading Who Should Be on Your EPI Treatment Team?

Living with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) takes a heavy toll on digestion. Having the condition essentially means your pancreas doesn’t produce enough digestive enzymes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These enzymes are responsible for breaking down food and allowing the body to use its nutrients for energy. According to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), people… Continue reading What You Need to Know About Food When You Have EPI

There’s a lot that doctors don’t fully understand yet about exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). The condition, in which your pancreas fails to produce the necessary digestive enzymes to break down food in your gut into absorbable nutrients, can be caused by pancreatic diseases and other conditions that impair pancreatic function, such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic… Continue reading What You Should Know About SIBO if You Have EPI

If you’ve been diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), you know how important it is to take your pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) capsules. PERT works as a stand-in for missing enzymes that help you digest food, but if you skip your meds, take an inaccurate dose, or take the pills at the wrong time,… Continue reading The Best Foods to Eat When EPI Symptoms Are at Their Worst

If you have symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) — such as abdominal pain and bloating, excess gas, diarrhea with no clear cause, and steatorrhea (stools that appear oily and have a foul odor) — you may chalk it up to digestive hassles. But it’s important to see your doctor to get the right diagnosis… Continue reading What Happens When You Aren’t Treated for EPI

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition that affects a person’s ability to digest food. In a healthy individual, the pancreas releases enzymes that break down food and allow nutrients to be absorbed, according to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). But in a person with EPI, the pancreas does not make enough of these enzymes… Continue reading Treatment of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

You may think that the symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) are hard enough to manage at home, let alone on the road. But with a little preparation, you can travel with confidence — and without the gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating and abdominal pain. “You don’t have to let EPI control your life,” says… Continue reading Tips for Traveling With EPI

I f you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a condition where your pancreas doesn’t make enough digestive enzymes to break down food, you’ll be treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). PERT, the standard of care for people with EPI, helps you break down fat, protein, and carbohydrates so your body can absorb nutrients. Without… Continue reading The Consumer’s Guide to Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT)

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, also known as EPI, is a condition that leads to a deficiency in exocrine pancreatic enzymes, and consequently an inability to digest food. The pancreas releases enzymes, which are proteins that create chemical reactions in the body, to break down food and allow it to be absorbed for use as energy. If the… Continue reading Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Your pancreas may be small, but it plays a big role in your digestive system. “The pancreas is an essential organ for digesting and absorbing nutrients,” says Chris Forsmark, MD, a professor of medicine and the chief of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at University of Florida Health in Gainesville. Usually, the pancreas… Continue reading Solutions to the Biggest Challenges to Living With EPI