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Diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome

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pottersusan

pottersusan

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
It's ages since I've posted but I'm back.

I've very recently been told I've got IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)... Yippee!! What else can they throw at me, as I discovered a few months ago I've got osteoporosis and osteomalacia (rickets in adults), all as a result of the surgery.
Apparently ibs is common in people who have abdominal surgery. I had talked to several docs about my problems and was basically told - what else can you expect after your op. However, a dietitian (not a diabetes specialist) actually listened and hit the nail on the head within 5 minutes! It hadn't occurred to me that it was a dietary problem that I could actually do something about.

I'm also staying in today waiting for delivery of a dexcom cgm - bought off ebay!! Excitement is certainly rising and I look forward to my hba1c falling.🙂

So I'm now on a very strict FODMAPs diet to try to identify what's upsetting my innards. However, it's sent the diabetes off the wall. This means that I'm currently wheat free, lactose free, onion and garlic free (eek!), fruit with stones free... The list goes on and on, but I feel better for it.

Why is it having such an effect on the diabetes? All I can think is its different sorts of carbs I'm eating.:confused:

The FODMAPs diet is quite challenging and it's impossible to guess whether something is allowed or not. The cgm is going to be put to good use over the the next few weeks.
 
Glad to see you back! Clearly not really for a 'good' reason!
However! Just as a matter of interest, did you consider the Libre instead of the CGM you've purchased? I have found mine great, although I am now financially and actually tethered to it for life I think!

Sadly it has shown me the disastrous effects of certain (most!!) carbohydrates on diabetes control, but at least you can then learn as many mitigating methods as possible because you can see the effect. You do have so many diet restrictions now that you will find it hard I know, but you will have the means to know what is happening.

I'd like to hear how you get on. We always concentrate on the 'carb' effect, wheras the whole diet affects our health, especially if there are other issues. Best of luck!
 
They're not even putting people on a waiting list for the flash libre at the moment! So I had no other real option.
 
Sorry, I wondered if you'd made a conscious choice. I'd still like to hear how you get on!
 
Though I actually prefer the cgm cos it warns you. I just don't like the price! It arrived safely yesterday from the states. Have got the sensors but am now waiting for a transmitter. Am not good at being patient!
Have just put my first attempt at wheat free bread in my bread maker. It's a weird recipe on the back of the Doves Farm flour but I'm giving it a go.
 
What did it taste like??

Did you see my posting about the FODMAP? This really started me thinking. You clearly have to knock out all the bacteria which would otherwise produce gas as well as not giving them any carbs which they could digest, no room for any error or cheating! I had wondered if it might work to find carbs which are less likely to cause a spike after eating, which may be true, but it is quite restrictive isn't it?
 
I've also discovered there's something called SIBO small intestine bacterial overgrowth, which produces very similar symptoms to IBS. It can be treated with antibiotics unlike IBS. Also there's a test for it - the hydrogen breath test (sounds as if it could be explosive!)
 
It tasted better than the bought bread, but I don't think I could eat more than one slice at a sitting! There's no danger of eating the whole loaf while still warm from the breadmaker!! ( a phenomenon that was not wholly unknown in a former life)
 
Oh dear - I have to say that bread and butter, and especially toast is one of life's joys! Cutting down is worse than no puddings for me! Hopefully you can at least have it sometime anyway, with your new recipe?!
 
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