Gluten Free

[Chas]

Does going gluten-free affect type 2 diabetes? and in what way

 

[trophywench]

Well you'd have to pay attention to the carb content of g/f things instead of saying eg 'I know a slice of bread is 15g carb' - it's only 15g carb if it's made with bog standard wheat flour.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Does going gluten-free affect type 2 diabetes? and in what way

The only reason to go gluten free is if you are Coeliac or gluten intolerant and if that's the case then your diabetes will improve as no more tummy upsets.
Gluten free foods except for the obvious are full of fat and sugar so you only get half the portion size.

Oh just for your info if you eat bread the GF bread is disgusting at the best of times just as carby as proper bread and same effect on blood sugars.

 

[AndBreathe]

Does going gluten-free affect type 2 diabetes? and in what way

Chas - I am strictly gluten-free, and have been for almost 3 years, I'd guess.

I can't say I noticed any material shift in blood sugars when I made the change, but then again, as I had already been eating a low carb diet fr some years beforehand, I had already got rid of the biggies, like bread, pasta and lots of ready made "stuff".

Why are you considering going gluten-free? Has your doctor told you you need to, or is there another reason?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

If coeliac is suspected (an autoimmune condition) I wonder whether it might raise the question of whether diabetes may also be autoimmune, rather than ‘regular’ t2?

 

[Chas]

Well you'd have to pay attention to the carb content of g/f things instead of saying eg 'I know a slice of bread is 15g carb' - it's only 15g carb if it's made with bog standard wheat flour.

Thanks for the info

 

[Chas]

The only reason to go gluten free is if you are Coeliac or gluten intolerant and if that's the case then your diabetes will improve as no more tummy upsets.
Gluten free foods except for the obvious are full of fat and sugar so you only get half the portion size.

Oh just for your info if you eat bread the GF bread is disgusting at the best of times just as carby as proper bread and same effect on blood sugars.

Thank you for the info P-Sue

 

[Chas]

Chas - I am strictly gluten-free, and have been for almost 3 years, I'd guess.

I can't say I noticed any material shift in blood sugars when I made the change, but then again, as I had already been eating a low carb diet fr some years beforehand, I had already got rid of the biggies, like bread, pasta and lots of ready made "stuff".

Why are you considering going gluten-free? Has your doctor told you you need to, or is there another reason?

Thank you for the info Andbreathe, I am going today to get tested

 

[Chas]

If coeliac is suspected (an autoimmune condition) I wonder whether it might raise the question of whether diabetes may also be autoimmune, rather than ‘regular’ t2?

Thank you for the info

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thank you for the info Andbreathe, I am going today to get tested

Hope all goes well for you.

 

[Chas]

Thank you P-Sue

 

[AndBreathe]

Thank you for the info Andbreathe, I am going today to get tested

Chas - Have you been eating a good level of gluten containing foods in the preceding few weeks. If not, your results may not be robust.

I'm not saying that to concern you, but just so that you know.

Good luck with the test. Is this the initial blood tests, as opposed to any follow-up colonoscopy or DEXA Scan?

 

[Chas]

Hi Andbreathe, I have had stomach problems since my 25th radiotherapy session (37 in total) for prostate cancer 2017. My PSA is now 0.018 which is excellent (4.00 is the norm for men) 12 years type 2 and on tablets. I usually have a bad bowel day after spicy food, raw onions etc but clears up after 2-3 days. That's what prompted me to ask the Doctor to organise a blood test for Gluten intolerance. So I really don't know what to expect. I'm 69 but look mid 40's so I'm told and otherwise in good health.

 

[trophywench]

Well, always worth getting checked out Chas, for the sake of a blood test (like Thyroid levels) but it's wheat gluten that's at work in Coeliac disease, so you'd be suffering after eating anything with that in it rather than spicy stuff of itself. However, if you haven't prepared the spicy food yourself, you won't know what ingredients were in it.

My own husband who has always been the diametric opposite of constipated his whole life, sometimes going twice a day, became considerably 'looser' after his 3 week session of radiotherapy (weekdays only with weekends off for good behaviour LOL) which he had to have since his PSA rose steadily for 3 months following his prostatectomy. Doesn't seem to make any difference what he actually eats though. (It's a bit like one of us having a constant BG reading of 5 all day when he says 'I've only been once today!' - )

 

[Chas]

Hi Jen, I had the full 37 treatments of radiotherapy and my stomach has not been great since, but I must say in my memories I think I have always had loose bowels. I really don't think that I have Coeliac, but just wanted to have it checked. I believe that it's like the old computer saying, "Garbage in Garbage out " lol. I am really going to watch what I eat, unfortunately, there is no food that I don't like. Thank you for your continual support, I really appreciate you.

 

[trophywench]

.... and how both Pete and I both laughed when his mum said to us both (then aged 49 & 51) that 'Old age don't come on it's own, you know!' It's ruddy true, first I had to pack in eating radishes and more lately cucumber - raging heartburn. I've been supposed to take a blood thinner, originally soluble aspirin but then clopidrogel - both heartburn so then they also prescribe Omeprazole cos I have intermittent claudication and they can't cure that anyway, and I was already on Levothyroxine and BP tablets, think they expect me and others to be happy to rattle when I walk. You shouldn't do this that or the other when taking this drug or that drug or the other drug ...... nearly drove me bats so in the finish my own answer was to either just pack up eating whatever it is or suffer in silence when I do. But as I've never been silent - I plumped for the first option!

Unfortunately Chas, much like Chemo, radiotherapy though much better targeted these days than formerly, does subsequently the other bits of you that happen to be in the path of the beam. Are you still being seen by urology/oncology at the hospital? Had you thought of trying to contact one of the specialist clinic nurses regarding this? - they are all very down to earth and sensible about 'attendant' concerns which people have so it's absolutely worth letting them know even if they can't actually 'cure' it.

 

[Chas]

I'm on soluble aspirin for blood thinning also plus BP tablets since 2017 after my Aortic valve replacement and by-pass. I also take Omeprazole when required. I'm only seen now every 6 months by Urology and I hope it stays that way or yearly or never again would suit me. I didn't know they had specialist nurses that are familiar with Prostate. I have talked to nurses at Prostate UK who are helpful. Thanks again for all your help, it's good to talk to someone who has feelings and understands not just cold like the medical profession and their 15-minute appointments. These people are trying to convince us all about a cure for a virus that raised it's ugly head 8 months ago when any intelligent person knows it can take up to 20 years to develop a vaccine.

 

[Madeline]

If you’re being tested, don’t change your diet at all until after - Small Madeline cut out gluten and then had to go back to eating it for three months before she could be tested.

 

[Chas]

Thanks for the info