How do you manage bloating gastroparesis and diabetes?

Hello,
I am new to this site. Although I did work for Mayo Clinic Phoenix & Scottsdale AZ. I am diabetic and now have Gastroparesis. How do I know what to eat while dealing with both issues. I currently do not take any Diabetes medication as I was taken off all previous meds for it. All info I find is for one issue or the other but not both.
thank you

@martie422, Welcome to Mayo's support.

I am an insulin-dependent type two diabetic with stage 3b chronic kidney disease and a year ago was diagnosed with gastroparesis. I already knew that a diabetic diet and a renal diet conflicted and had worked out a balance to the best of my ability but the GP really threw a curve ball because it conflicted with the other 2 diets!

I was in total misery for about a year following a strict GP diet until I finally threw up my hands and very slowly re-introduced very small portions of foods I enjoyed but which were on many "limited" lists. Websites for GP diets contradict each other - one says well-cooked broccoli florets are ok while another says broccoli's a no-no, one website says to avoid legumes but another says refried beans are safe.

Someone told me to google Crystal Saltrelli and I found her experiences and blog to be very helpful.

As an ovovegetarian, pea protein and soy are necessary to meet protein needs. I eat very small portions of meat analogs along with small servings of broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, and squash with potatoes or rice as well as soft white breads and V8 and mango juices and peanut butter crackers with a half or a fourth serving of Boost spread out into 5 or 6 small meals a day. In other words, I took what standard GP diets recommend and adjusted it according to what I felt I needed to eat regardless of where it was placed in any of the 3 restrictive diets.

But this was AFTER several gastric flare-ups and a couple of periods of time where I could eat so little I lost 80 pounds in a year!

I definitely do NOT advise anyone else to eat what I eat because as Ms. Saltrelli says, each person is different and out bodies respond differently to various foods. But I will say that my diabetes, CKD, and GP have all improved. I know I still can have flare-ups and am willing to go on a gut-resting meal plan for a few days and let my GI system recover as much as it can.

Good luck to you as you research GP diets on websites like the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic and learn what your body can and cannot tolerate.

T2D here use insulin. For 3 months stayed very close to low roughage diet. No fresh fruit or fresh vegetables. Boiled to death veges ok per lists yuck. Starting to add some fresh fruit back. Dinner small piece meat 2oz baked potatoe 1/4 cup microwave vege. Other times crackers and cheese 2 sort of meals 3 snacks. If I vary I get sick. And this has stirred up my microscopic colitis now as well. Tiny, tiny steps.

Hey @martie422, I add my welcome. In addition to the helpful replies you got from @kamama94 and @mkh58, I direct you to this discussion where you'll meet additional members who are dealing with both gastroparesis and diabetes.

- How do you manage bloating gastroparesis and diabetes? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bloating-gastroparesis-and-diabetic/

It can be challenging dealing with multiple conditions that benefit from dietary changes, but the dietary needs may be different. Do you have type 1 or 2 diabetes? Have you had a consult with a qualified dietitian? They can be so helpful.