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diabetic diarrhoea

K

Katrina5664

Active Member
Hi Does anyone have any ideas on how to manage diabetic diarrhoea. Doctor today has told me this is what she believes is causing my problems with bowel control. I am on 1 tablet of Immodium type tablet 4x a day which sort of works but not reliably. I have 2 rough collie dogs and am down to two short walks only a day as I am scared to walk too far in case I have an episode. I realise that this is not curable but need better control. Doctor said go away and manage it in effect.
Thanks for reading
Katrina
P.S
I am sure there are people out there who have it worse than me.
 
Katrina5664 said:
Hi apparently not it is a true medical complication which I believe is on a par with the neuropathy problems with hands and feet. I would very much like it to be something different as someone may be able to do something about it.
Katrina
Click to expand...
Ok in that case I'm afraid I haven't heard of it.. I'm sure someone will be along who has though.. sounds very unpleasant. I hope you find something to help.
 
Katrina5664 said:
Hi apparently not it is a true medical complication which I believe is on a par with the neuropathy problems with hands and feet. I would very much like it to be something different as someone may be able to do something about it.
Katrina
Click to expand...
Could it possibly be diet related? An intolerance to dairy or gluten? I think that's where I would start as I know diet changes made a massive difference to my bowel symptoms.
 
Thank you everyone I tried the intolerance route and nothing made any difference. I was diagnosed last year (at the age of 60) after an emergency operation for an infected insect bite and they put it down to the amount of antibiotics I had to have. But according to the experts this should now not affect this area. I have had a colonoscopy and there are no problems there.
Katrina
 
Hi,

I would side with @Jamesuk9 's suggestion.. A process of elimination cutting out the "usual suspects" in the diet & see if the issue improves...?

Best wishes!
 
Since I took Metformin for a few weeks last year, I had dreadful diarrhea then, and now I seem to have consequences from all sorts of things I didn't react to before - no added sugar fruit flavour drinks from Lidl are the latest things added to the list.
I try to keep the advice 'meden agan' - nothing in excess - in mind, but it is difficult.
It is definitely something associated with diabetes - but it is not a symptom, but a consequence of the treatment.
 
Resurgam said:
Since I took Metformin for a few weeks last year, I had dreadful diarrhea then, and now I seem to have consequences from all sorts of things I didn't react to before - no added sugar fruit flavour drinks from Lidl are the latest things added to the list.
I try to keep the advice 'meden agan' - nothing in excess - in mind, but it is difficult.
It is definitely something associated with diabetes - but it is not a symptom, but a consequence of the treatment.
Click to expand...

The poster doesn't take Metformin, and says she has Autonomic Neuropathy http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-complications/autonomic-neuropathy.html
 
Have you tried a good probiotic? I'd go for the supplement type, rather than in yoghurts etc (but that's because I have an aversion to artificial additives and added sugar / sweeteners). Maybe the high dose antibiotics also knocked out your 'good bacteria' in your gut. I used to have a miserable life with what was called IBS - and it magically disappeared when I cut out wheat. But I feel for you, it's life limiting and potentially embarrassing. I hope you find a solution soon and I am sad to hear that your doctor is so unhelpful.
 
I was recently diagnosed coeliac and have gone completely gluten free. Not just wheat but all grains. My severe chronic diarrhea of many years has gone and my arthritis has improved a lot. Both wheat and dairy are very common causes of chronic diarrhea. It can take months of not eating them to calm things down.
 
My consultant mentioned this at my last appointment and I'd be interested to know if anyone has any tips or treatment advice too. I've always had a 'sensitive' stomach but it has definitely worsened lately and it seems likely that this is the cause (yes, I've been tested for coeliac etc).

I'm afraid i can't offer any help @Katrina5664, but I just want to say to everyone that it really does exist and to give you a virtual hug as I understand how difficult it must be dealing with it everyday x
 
When you say your stomach has always been 'sensitive', what exactly do you mean ? Do you also have a problem with wind, flatulence ? I had similar symptoms to yours about three years ago and it turned out I had the heliobacter pylori bacteria, so the treatment to get rid of that is a fortnight (?) on two different antobiotics together, accompanied by tablets to reduce acid production in the stomach so as to allow healing of any ulcer. Has anyone considered that as a possibility ?
 
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