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How to manage high calorie diet for cancer with type 2 diabetes?
Hello! My husband is 2 wks done with chemo/radiation treatments for adenocarcinoma esophageal cancer. What a roller coaster! As his wife/caregiver, I'm doing just fine EXCEPT for his diet. He's been a type2 diabetic for the last 20 years, which means I've been cooking low carb (almost no carb), lean protein type meals for that period of time. NOW i'm told to put weight on him (soft diet) or he may need a feeding tube. I know a feeding tube isn't the end of the world, but.....
Currently, he'll drink 2 high calorie smoothies (~650 each when made with yogurt and whole milk), plus pastas, mashed potatoes, cream soups, cheesecake, ice cream, etc. OMG, it hurts my soul to be feeding him high carb foods in order to get those calories, but dietician said to worry about calories before carbs. This just seems wrong and the dietician is really no help
My husband can't be unique in this area, so I was hoping others in this group may give me some pointers on getting very high calories without so much carbs.
Thank you!
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My mom went through chemo radio surgery she lost a lot of weight.
She stabilized with clean protein Bene protein powder (you can put it in water or food).
For this type of cancer not sure sugar is super good but weight lost if the challenge.
Try avocado - eggs - almond butter ? Fat fish ? Milk with added proteins 14g !
It helped my mom.
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2 ReactionsThis is struggle that my family is having, the VA yells about my diabetes. Where as my Oncologist keeps saying I need to gain weight. My wife puts ice cream in my Boost.
My husband just finished five weeks of treatments (chemo/ radiation) hoping that all will be well for surgery next month. Even before this regiment, he had a hard time swallowing food, especially bread and meats.
Surprisingly, he can eat nuts, peanuts, pistachios, cashews. In the morning, I fix him 2 poached eggs, he will add a dish of ice cream with cheerios.
During the day, he eats nuts, ice cream, Ensure, etc. For dinner, I cook regular food (sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, chicken, etc, no acid food or spices) which I transform into a puree with an immersion blender, everything turns into a cream soup. To this, I add some heavy cream (not too much, it can cause heart burn) milk and cottage cheese. He has lost some weigh, 20 lbs, but seems to maintain it now, so far.
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1 ReactionI know they said the same for my mom and my sister and I tried to balance it.
Gain weight and not to much processed sugar ….
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1 ReactionYou are an excellent care giver, I applaud you. You are doing an amazing job.
My mom lost also lots of weight but after surgery (2weeks after surgery when she was ok) she maintained her weight.
Before chemo 69kiko - Before surgery 65kiko
Today 3 months post surgery 62kilo
We are in Quebec Canada.
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1 ReactionHi @soshea22, managing the needs of cancer-related weight loss and type 2 diabetes can be a real struggle. I hope you saw the helpful food suggestions from fellow members @kissingrhino @naomicanada and @dh1942.
Soshea, first I want to say, kudos to you (and your husband) for helping him to manage his diabetes for the past 20 years with low carb, healthy fat cooking. I can imagine adding back so many gluten-based carbs crushes your soul and goes against the grain (pun intended) of the dietary practices you've been following for decades. Might some of the suggestions offered by @kissingrhino @naomicanada and @dh1942 work for your husband like avocado, ice cream, eggs, nuts, sweet potatoes, etc. Things that are high in calories, but lower on the glycemic scale than pasta and cheesecake?
Have you consulted with an oncology dietician - someone who specializes in dietary needs of cancer patients?