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Constipation

cold ethyl

cold ethyl

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,210
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I am currently on 1 500mg tablet of Metformin. Initially it gave me terrible cramps and frequent toilet trips but on Dr's advice I switched to taking it with evening meal and that stopped. Now I'm the other way and wondered if this is a side effect of the meds, not drinking enough or having switched to a low carb diet from one that was very high in baked spuds, brown rice and wholemeal bread. It's disheartening when I get on scales too as though I feel thinner everywhere else, the pregnancy style bloated belly is doing the kgs lost no favours. Any tips on natural remedies for shifting this as I dread going down the route of a tablet to cover another tablet's side effects?
 
I'm not on any medication, so can't comment there.

On your more general query though: Up your fluids. That would almost certainly help. Living in the heat, I have to ensure I drink plenty anyway, but if I don't my body reacts as your is.

These days, I also have a spoonful of bran added to my rolled oats at breakfast time, which also helps. I know not many have a cereal at breakfast, but if I'm doing a yoghurt based breakfast, I stir it in there too, and quite like the texture it adds.

It takes our bodies a little while to adjust fully to the lifestyle changes we make.
 
Ground flaxseeds in your yogurt should sort you out. Celery is a high fibre snack which shouldn't trouble your bg.
 
In this household, the solution to constipation has been found to be water (lots of it, not too late in the day) and exercise. Use of laxatives has been know to produce the sort of effects that I would prefer not to describe on a family forum!
Sally
 
Oat bran (very reasonably priced at Holland & Barratt) is kinder on the gut than wheat bran, but just as effective.

You can up your green veg significantly, without impacting much on carbs.

Drinking more definitely helps.

And I keep some Lepicol around for emergencies (which are very rare). It works fabulously. So do psyllium husks.
 
Remember that when you up your fibre intake you also need to increase your fluid intake.

I'm assuming that if you're low carbing you're eating more veg than before?
Exercise is good too, just a gentle walk with the dog sorts me out sometimes!

Indiana x


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Thanks for the input. I'm low carbing and probably eating more green veg than before. I've also dramatically reduced portion sizes as I've so much weight to lose so maybe there just isn't as much to go begging ;-) I certainly think I need to up my fluids as i've started to drink much less than before diagnosis largely because I no longer spend hours sitting on my behind writing in coffee shops. Also I think part of me has been afraid to drink more, associating thirst and weeing with poor control. It's funny what ideas you get in your head.
 
I find a mug of strong coffee with double cream usually does the trick: I think it's the combination of the laxative qualities of coffee with the slippery nature of cream. :)

Kate
 
I only drink decaf. Your suggestion made me laugh though, as when we had a dairy herd, we once had a cow with a similar problem and the vet told us to give it coffee. I'm not sure it appreciated that it was a 200g jar of Gold Blend!
 
strangely the more water we drink the less we retain so more liquid will make you lighter, i had constipation when i started low carbing until i started on greek yogurt for brekkie and stumbled upon linwoods milled flax (as avocado suggested) i dont put much on but it has a great texture and cured the problem immediately but not too much so it went the other way, i dont go as much as i used to as i think i had ibs for years before which seems to have cured itself and also i dont eat as much as before so.... if you dont do the yogurt you can add milled flax to salads and all sorts, also the fat around the belly is the last to go :( i did lots of searches on how to lose belly fat and it seems you cant decide where you lose it, booooo
 
Going to up my liquids and I'll get some flaxseed when I'm next in town. Thanks for all the tips x
 
Rhubarb stewed is very effective and natural. Helps me .




Late onset T1, several auto immune issues.
Humalogmix25 twice a day, Methotrexate 25mg once per week, FolicAcid 5mg once per week, prednisolone 5mg daily, Allopurinol 300mg, Calcichew-D3 800iu, Levothyroxine 50mcg, Atenolol 50mg, Losarten 100mg, Aspirin 75mg, Nicorandil 20mg, Nitrolingual GTN spray, Metformin 2000mg, Allimemazine 10mg, Lanzoprazole 30mg, Atorvastatin 20mg, Co Codamol 8/500mg, Depo Medrone (Methylprednisolone) or double Prednisolone for 7 days in case of RA flare.
 
I've started with the rhubarb. I suspect by the time I've done all these things, I'll be back on moaning about spending my life in the smallest room.
 
Timely post for me as I was just about to sit down and ask the same question. I gone low carb and found I am producing hardly anything and it is pretty hard work... and was going to ask for suggestions. Thanks to all that have.
Tried stewed prunes.... to no effect!
Have lots of rhubarb in the garden so will have some with yoghurt.
Will drink more durning early part of the day... recently seem to be waking up in the middle of night needing to go...
 
glad it's not just me, though I feel your pain ;-) It is the only non- positive aspect of the dietary change so far.
 
just to add a little true humour, my poos are HUGE now, they often wont flush, i have to stand in the toilet waiting for cistern to refill 10 times before it starts its journey to the sea, this is ok at home but not so good if im on site and borrowing someones toilet, gods know what they must think, i was thinking about buying a samaurai sword
 
I've mostly not had a problem since going LCHF. Because most people, but especially Type 2's, are deficient in magnesium, I take a magnesium supplement - that and drinking lots of fluid seems to help with regularity.
 
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