[onlymep]

Hi Everyone... I've had type 2 diabetes for past 12 years and only just started using insulin this year (4 injections daily) as endocronoligist finally agreed to do further tests as to why oral meds not working... so now my pancreas needs help apparently. In addition to diabetes I've had ongoing infections of all sorts for past 4 years continually (been hospitalised several times)... and I've had a stomach that has been misbehaving for about as long. My GP & endocronoligist finally agreed I need to see a gastroenterologist. I'm now undergoing tests to figure out what is going on with my digestive system. After gastroscopy & colonoscopy ruled out anything sinister, I'm about to start the FODMAP diet in Jan11 where apparently I have to restrict foods with fructose for 8 weeks. Being diabetic I've looked at the list of foods that I can eat on this diet and it's pretty much ruled out most of the low GI food I'd normally eat such as pasta, grainy breads, apples, etc. Has anyone actually done this diet successful with diabetes? If so did you have any troubles with insulin & BGLs? What low GI foods did you find convenient to carry around with you? I'm just interested to know if it can be easily managed or not. I have had discussion with dietitician on the phone and I'm about to visit dietitican soon for more indepth discussion... but I reckon experience from others helps. Would appreciate any experiences you can share on this. Thanks.

 

[breezeonby]

Hello and welcome to the forum! I have no experience with the diet you mentioned. I do understand gastrointestional problems. I have gastroparesis, which means that my food digests slowly. It also makes me very nauseated. Good luck with your new diet, that is a great way to start the new year!

 

[jwags]

I have never heard of that diet but I do something similar. I rarely use the GI index because almost everything on the list spikes me. I choose instead to count individual carbs. I rarely eat any fruit or grain. I basically eat protein, veggies, fat and nuts. I'm sure with gastro problems nuts and fiber are probably rough on your system. The only grain I can eat is sprouted grain bread. It still spikes me about 40 points but within 2 hours I usually am below 130 and below 100 at 4 hours. Lots of D's have been successful with low carb diets.

 

[onlymep]

Thanks Breezeonby and Jwag.
@Breezeonby - I'm at stage where they have ruled out most sinister things. Although gastroenterologist has order ultrasound on my pancreas, liver, & gallbladder. His theory is that it's possible I may have inflammation or gallstones. My pain is on the left... but he says that it could still be gallstones. Mainly because I'm chronically burping all the time too. I have already been given a strong course of antibiotics to kill of any bacterial overgrowth in the gut. The FODMAP diet is to rule out fructose intolerance as the cause. After these two things, if I still have symptoms apparently I will be labelled as having Irrititable Bowel Syndrome. With all the infections I've had I've also had a tonne of antibiotics year after year. Sometimes I wonder if that is what has affected my stomach? Also my problems started (getting infections & digestive problems) when I had 3x gastro viruses within 3 months and I was hospitalised for two of them. It's been a rollercoaster ride ever since.
@jwag - I find on insulin I've had more hypo's. I used to be on Metformin and other drugs before that for years. I had to get taken off Metformin as it was giving me unpleasant side effects. Although in the end no type of drug worked on me at all... completely useless and I demanded to know why for a couple of years before they eventually agreed to test me instead of changing my dosage all the time. You mentioned you eat grainy bread... on FODMAP I can't do that at all. I believe I can eat oats, although no wheat, rye, etc. I still haven't figured out how it actually works as I just got given 2 pages of foods not to eat and 1 page of food to eat. I have no other instruction. I've looked it up on the net and I get different ways of doing this diet... eg. 4 days restricting, then introducing, etc. Hopefully dietitician can help me that way.

 

[jwags]

Since it is a diet to rule out certain inflammation you need to stick to their stict rules. The bread I eat is made from live sprouts of beans, wheat, rye, lentils, barley, etc. So I don't think it would work. I also make my own crackers using flaxseeds, but that may also be forbidden. Good Luck in finding out what is causing you the problem.

 

[breezeonby]

Thanks Breezeonby and Jwag.
@Breezeonby - I'm at stage where they have ruled out most sinister things. Although gastroenterologist has order ultrasound on my pancreas, liver, & gallbladder. His theory is that it's possible I may have inflammation or gallstones. My pain is on the left... but he says that it could still be gallstones. Mainly because I'm chronically burping all the time too. I have already been given a strong course of antibiotics to kill of any bacterial overgrowth in the gut. The FODMAP diet is to rule out fructose intolerance as the cause. After these two things, if I still have symptoms apparently I will be labelled as having Irrititable Bowel Syndrome. With all the infections I've had I've also had a tonne of antibiotics year after year. Sometimes I wonder if that is what has affected my stomach? Also my problems started (getting infections & digestive problems) when I had 3x gastro viruses within 3 months and I was hospitalised for two of them. It's been a rollercoaster ride ever since.
@jwag - I find on insulin I've had more hypo's. I used to be on Metformin and other drugs before that for years. I had to get taken off Metformin as it was giving me unpleasant side effects. Although in the end no type of drug worked on me at all... completely useless and I demanded to know why for a couple of years before they eventually agreed to test me instead of changing my dosage all the time. You mentioned you eat grainy bread... on FODMAP I can't do that at all. I believe I can eat oats, although no wheat, rye, etc. I still haven't figured out how it actually works as I just got given 2 pages of foods not to eat and 1 page of food to eat. I have no other instruction. I've looked it up on the net and I get different ways of doing this diet... eg. 4 days restricting, then introducing, etc. Hopefully dietitician can help me that way.

Gosh, I hate to see you labeled with IBS, seems like gastroenterologists like that syndrome and there is really no cure or even a medication that helps it. Keep us posted on your findings.

 

[onlymep]

yeah I hope it's not IBS too... last thing I want. I'm still having symptoms everyday at the moment.... I reckon it inferferes with my BGLs a lot too. I've been on long term stomach meds (probably almost tried all the drugs to date), but I don't like continuing to take drugs without knowing the cause... so hopefully I get an answer. Next appt with gastro is not until March, so I probably won't find out anything until then. I did see Iridologist/Naturopath a few months ago out of interest... he mentioned my gallbladder being a problem... now I'm wondering if he was right? I wasn't believing some of the other stuff he mentioned though.... eg. he didn't even identify I was diabetic at all. We all live and learn!

 

[breezeonby]

yeah I hope it's not IBS too... last thing I want. I'm still having symptoms everyday at the moment.... I reckon it inferferes with my BGLs a lot too. I've been on long term stomach meds (probably almost tried all the drugs to date), but I don't like continuing to take drugs without knowing the cause... so hopefully I get an answer. Next appt with gastro is not until March, so I probably won't find out anything until then. I did see Iridologist/Naturopath a few months ago out of interest... he mentioned my gallbladder being a problem... now I'm wondering if he was right? I wasn't believing some of the other stuff he mentioned though.... eg. he didn't even identify I was diabetic at all. We all live and learn!

I had a troublesome gallbladder, nausea, pain that radiated to my back. Just felt terrible. Had no stones but the ultrasound did show that I had sludge and a surgeon said I would feel much better once that it was removed. I had it removed in September 2009 and have never had any problems since. The only real pain was right after surgery and I wasn't responding to the pain meds given in the recovery room, so they kept me overnight and I was ready to go home the next day.

 

[onlymep]

it sounds like you had a quick recovery... your pain experience sounds different to mine. Gastro told me that if it's my gallbladder at all (when he gets results of ultrasound) he will be referring me to a surgeon. But my pain has always been on my left upper stomach, plus cramping in left side of bowel. But gastro reckons that symptoms of gallbladder different for everyone and just because I don't have the classic pain on the right going to through to back & shoulder doesn't mean I don't have a problem. Apparently gallbladder symptoms can affect both stomach & bowel as well. Oh well I'll wait & see what the result is to that.

 

[onlymep]

ps... I've definitely had trouble with nausea as you mentioned.... at times lose my appetite altogether... it's been a struggle. I can burp 24/7 too so I lose sleep... never a day when I don't have burping fits atm.

 

[onlymep]

well peoples I'm not on this diet any longer... doc demanded I go off it and gastroenterologist agreed today. Fact is my symptoms have not gone away and neither have they improved. My doc still has a suspicion that I have gastroparesis... but no definite diagnosis on that as yet. My gastro seems to be leaning toward IBS. I checked tests that are done for gastroparesis and I definitely haven't had the upper GI series or anything like that done. So still no answers and feeling lousy. I'm still burping 24/7 so now doc reckons I could do with some sleeping pills for a good few nights minimum as he reckons it's disrupting my sleep. Interestingly I noticed that one of the symptoms of gastroparesis is hypoglycemia which I've had a problem with lately. But I'm not making any conclusions as yet as I really don't know... too much to deal with atm.