Please can you tell me about diabetic digestive neuropathy?

Posted by nazleer @nazleer, Aug 5, 2023

I've been diagnosed digestive neuropathy. what medications can I take?

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@nazleer

Sorry I didn't mean to be invasive. I wanted to know what other medication was helping you with the diarrhea. I too have problems with fiber. My doctor is suggesting a Lactose intolerance test. Could you tell me what foods you are avoiding completely?

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@nazleer you were not “invasive” at all. I’m sorry to have given you that impression. I was just just trying to figure out where you were coming from and see if I could help. No other med helps me with diarrhea. But a little goes a long way. I have to be careful not to end up with the opposite problem. That is why I take a half tablet daily. The tab is easy to break and comes out to 1 mg. I don’t avoid any food completely (unless I don’t like it). That can be another problem because I like almost everything. I just have to consume fiberous stuff in small portions and not too often (especially cabbage or baked beans). Last year I found out I have diverticulitis. That is an infection in the little pouches call diverticuli that are located at the other end of the GI system. The treatment for that is more fiber. Good grief! Less fiber up top, more fiber at the bottom? My primary doc ended up suggesting it might be a bit of a bumpy road of trial and error (and small portions) to figure out what works for me. That works for me!

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@cehunt57

@nazleer you were not “invasive” at all. I’m sorry to have given you that impression. I was just just trying to figure out where you were coming from and see if I could help. No other med helps me with diarrhea. But a little goes a long way. I have to be careful not to end up with the opposite problem. That is why I take a half tablet daily. The tab is easy to break and comes out to 1 mg. I don’t avoid any food completely (unless I don’t like it). That can be another problem because I like almost everything. I just have to consume fiberous stuff in small portions and not too often (especially cabbage or baked beans). Last year I found out I have diverticulitis. That is an infection in the little pouches call diverticuli that are located at the other end of the GI system. The treatment for that is more fiber. Good grief! Less fiber up top, more fiber at the bottom? My primary doc ended up suggesting it might be a bit of a bumpy road of trial and error (and small portions) to figure out what works for me. That works for me!

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Also @nazleer
Trial and error is the key for me as well. Since I have only one partly functional kidney along with diabetes and gastroparesis with conflicting food recommendations and no-nos for each diagnosis, I have had to get creative with menu planning. Also have to adjust that according to whether in "gastroflare" or if blood sugars are too high or too low without going over recommended renal limits for someone with kidney failure! Since my gastroparesis constipates me instead of the opposite problem, I take senna tablets and docusate sodium daily and add generic Miralax three times a week. Right now I am tolerating well the fiber in Brussels sprouts a couple of times a week and broccoli a couple of times a week even though these are foods many say people with GP should avoid. I also have diverticulosis, as most older people do, but so far not diverticulitis. . . yet. So, yes, trial and error because what is ok on Monday might not be ok on Tuesday, etc. It's a daily crap shoot, sorry for the bad pun.

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@kamama94

Also @nazleer
Trial and error is the key for me as well. Since I have only one partly functional kidney along with diabetes and gastroparesis with conflicting food recommendations and no-nos for each diagnosis, I have had to get creative with menu planning. Also have to adjust that according to whether in "gastroflare" or if blood sugars are too high or too low without going over recommended renal limits for someone with kidney failure! Since my gastroparesis constipates me instead of the opposite problem, I take senna tablets and docusate sodium daily and add generic Miralax three times a week. Right now I am tolerating well the fiber in Brussels sprouts a couple of times a week and broccoli a couple of times a week even though these are foods many say people with GP should avoid. I also have diverticulosis, as most older people do, but so far not diverticulitis. . . yet. So, yes, trial and error because what is ok on Monday might not be ok on Tuesday, etc. It's a daily crap shoot, sorry for the bad pun.

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@kamama94 good to hear from you. I loved the pun! But Lord have mercy, with His help we carry on!

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@cehunt57

@nazleer you were not “invasive” at all. I’m sorry to have given you that impression. I was just just trying to figure out where you were coming from and see if I could help. No other med helps me with diarrhea. But a little goes a long way. I have to be careful not to end up with the opposite problem. That is why I take a half tablet daily. The tab is easy to break and comes out to 1 mg. I don’t avoid any food completely (unless I don’t like it). That can be another problem because I like almost everything. I just have to consume fiberous stuff in small portions and not too often (especially cabbage or baked beans). Last year I found out I have diverticulitis. That is an infection in the little pouches call diverticuli that are located at the other end of the GI system. The treatment for that is more fiber. Good grief! Less fiber up top, more fiber at the bottom? My primary doc ended up suggesting it might be a bit of a bumpy road of trial and error (and small portions) to figure out what works for me. That works for me!

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Thanks for your reply. I have had to cut off many of my favorite foods to avoid the diarrhea. Doctor suggests managing the blood sugar and keep it below 7. Although I don't eat sweets, I still have high sugars from everything I eat. I think trial and error is the way to go.

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@nazleer

Thanks for your reply. I have had to cut off many of my favorite foods to avoid the diarrhea. Doctor suggests managing the blood sugar and keep it below 7. Although I don't eat sweets, I still have high sugars from everything I eat. I think trial and error is the way to go.

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@nazleer I’m concerned about the number you said your Doctor wants you to keep your blood sugar under to manage it “7”. Normal blood sugar is 70 - 110 ish. Is “7” a typo? There is another test called glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C or A1C for short). It measures how your blood sugar has been over about a 3 month period. Normal people are around 5 - 6 on that test. Diabetics are doing well at 6 - 8. Is that perhaps the test you are talking about that your Doctor wants you to keep below 7?

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@cehunt57

@nazleer I’m concerned about the number you said your Doctor wants you to keep your blood sugar under to manage it “7”. Normal blood sugar is 70 - 110 ish. Is “7” a typo? There is another test called glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C or A1C for short). It measures how your blood sugar has been over about a 3 month period. Normal people are around 5 - 6 on that test. Diabetics are doing well at 6 - 8. Is that perhaps the test you are talking about that your Doctor wants you to keep below 7?

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Yes I'm talking about the A1C test. Mine fluctuates between 6-8.

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@denisef

oooh okay - so you have lower GI issues... i have gastroparesis so i was going to give you some info on that - however it seems, as you say - you have diarrhea..

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I have Gastroparesis am a type 2 diabetic. And was officially diagnosed in Jan 2023 with Gastroparesis. But for about 2 years prior is when everything started going wrong. I belch, burp lots changed breads, went to non gluten snack has helped some. Food choices are limited. Diarhea never ever stops ever. Been taking 5 imodium per day per gastro dr. It is a lonely place.

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@mkh58

I have Gastroparesis am a type 2 diabetic. And was officially diagnosed in Jan 2023 with Gastroparesis. But for about 2 years prior is when everything started going wrong. I belch, burp lots changed breads, went to non gluten snack has helped some. Food choices are limited. Diarhea never ever stops ever. Been taking 5 imodium per day per gastro dr. It is a lonely place.

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Evidently you are not alone. Try a nutritionist if possible.

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@mkh58

I have Gastroparesis am a type 2 diabetic. And was officially diagnosed in Jan 2023 with Gastroparesis. But for about 2 years prior is when everything started going wrong. I belch, burp lots changed breads, went to non gluten snack has helped some. Food choices are limited. Diarhea never ever stops ever. Been taking 5 imodium per day per gastro dr. It is a lonely place.

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You won’t like reading this, but need to urge you to keep searching for primary cause of consistent diarrhea. My story: for 3 yrs I shared your constant diarrhea; had CT scan revealing mass in stomach & liver; endoscopy removed stomach polyps & biopsies diagnosed small bowel primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoid Tumor with liver metastases; second opinion same as the 1st; Oncologist verified
diagnosis & began treatment of Lanreotide Injections every 28 days resulting in no more diarrhea symptoms. My disease has remained stable with some tumor shrinkage (MRIs).
I would not wish my situation on you, but I believe you need to not settle for 4 Imodium/day as your solution.
Best of health!

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