Manage Your EPI With Healthy Habits One of the biggest tasks for people with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is to make sure the body gets the right amount of vitamins and nutrients.

Along with treatment, the right diet and lifestyle habits can make a big difference. They can also ease symptoms that come with the condition, like diarrhea and stomach pain.

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If your condition isn’t severe, these changes might be all you need to treat and manage the disease.

Daily Changes

Ask your doctor or a dietitian about taking on these habits to keep your EPI in check:

• Take vitamins. You might need to take vitamins A, D, E, and K to replace what your body can’t absorb from food. Check with your doctor before you add any supplements to your diet, though.

• Try 5 small meals. Smaller meals more often throughout the day will make it easier for your pancreas to digest what you eat.

• Don’t drink or smoke. Alcohol and tobacco use can damage your pancreas. Drinking also makes it harder for your body to absorb fat. If you need help stopping these habits, talk to your doctor. There are programs that can make quitting a little easier.

• Drink plenty of fluids. When you have diarrhea, your body loses a lot of liquid. Be sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Other liquids in your diet -- like broth, fruit juices, and drinks without caffeine -- can help, too.

• Avoid high-fiber meals and diets if you’re taking enzymes to treat your condition. A lot of fiber can make diarrhea and other symptoms worse.

Cystic Fibrosis

If you have this genetic disorder and you also have EPI, you need a high-fat, high-calorie diet to make sure your body can work well. That might mean eating 20% to 50% more calories than people who don't have cystic fibrosis. 

You want a well-balanced diet that has the right amount of salt, fat, and protein. Work with your doctor or a dietitian to find out what meal plan works best for you.

Each case of EPI is different, but with treatment, the right diet, and help from your doctor, you can get what you need to stay well.