• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Digestive Enzymes: An Unexpected Diabetes Game Changer

As a type 3c I have to take replacement digestive enzymes Creon, it is a bit of hit and miss how much to take, it can cause gassy tummy. I turned to a vegetarian diet as eating meat is so **** hard. The most important thing to remember if you are having enzyme problems you will have vitamin and mineral problems, they 2 go hand in hand.
 
Winnie53 said:
@KevinPotts I'm interested in hearing what results you get. Also, if you come across any studies related to enzymes and type 2 diabetes, please post links here.

My sense is that if your pancreas is producing adequate enzymes, you won't notice a difference in blood glucose levels. That said, I think it's worth a 30 day trial, particularly for those of us who are older.

Looking around on Amazon, there's been quite a few books written on the health benefits of supplementing enzymes. This book, Enzyme Nutrition (1995) by Edward Howell looks interesting - ( https://www.amazon.com/Enzyme-Nutri...e=UTF8&qid=1465754090&sr=1-5&keywords=enzymes )...

"About the author

Dr. Edward Howell began his study of food enzymes more than eighty years ago. After receiving a medical license from the state of Illinois, he spent six years on the professional staff of the Lindlahr Sanitarium, a well-known “nature cure” hospital. In 1930, Dr. Howell established his own facility for the treatment of chronic ailments, utilizing nutritional and physical therapies. Until his retirement in 1970, Dr. Howell devoted his time to both his private practice and his food and soil enzyme research. He continued his writing and research efforts up until the time of his death in 1988."

I believe this book was condensed from the 700 page referenced work he spent 20 years writing, published in the 1940's.

When I began managing my blood glucose levels with the low carbohydrate ketogenic diet and walking in February 2015, I naively thought this would be a more straight forward process. I've made a lot of progress, but still have more to do as my blood glucose is not yet within the normal range. I continue to have more questions than answers.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll be sure to provide a detailed anecdotal summary of my experience. :)


Diagnosed 13/4/16: T2, no meds, HbA1c 53, FBG 12.6, Trigs 3.6, HDL .75, LDL 4.0, BP 169/95, 13st 8lbs, waist 34" (2012 - 17st 7lbs, w 42").

6/6/16: FBG AV 4.6, Trigs 1.5, HDL 2.0, LDL 3.0, BP 112/68, BPM 66, 11st 11lbs, waist 30".

Regime: 20g LCHF, run 1 mile daily, weekly fasting.
 
Shar67 said:
As a type 3c I have to take replacement digestive enzymes Creon, it is a bit of hit and miss how much to take, it can cause gassy tummy. I turned to a vegetarian diet as eating meat is so **** hard. The most important thing to remember if you are having enzyme problems you will have vitamin and mineral problems, they 2 go hand in hand.
Click to expand...

@Shar67 This is why I think I've had inadequate enzymes for a long, long time. In my early to mid-30's, I began taking nutritional supplements including a B-complex. My thinking improved as did my overall health. Interestingly, every time I stopped taking supplements, my thinking became foggy, and I didn't feel as good. I'd try to tough it out - (who wants to spend the money on supplements when you're being told you're just peeing them out?) - but I always had to resume taking them to feel normal.

My experience supports your statements. I know many people who enjoy good health without supplementing though I think most people take vitamin D3 now, fish oil too perhaps. I feel fortunate that I have access to supplements so I too can enjoy good health.

Shar, did damage to your pancreas lead to you having to take enzymes?

Until very recently, I didn't know the enzymes amylase, lipase, and protease are produced by the pancreas. Nor have I seen them discussed in any of the diabetes books I've read, and I've read many. Or perhaps I was so focused on blood glucose levels, I didn't pay attention to anything else. :facepalm:
 
@Winnie53 Yes my pancreas has shrivelled up it is about the size of a plum, it doesn't work at all.
I still struggle with digestion, green veg is hard to digest. Though I have developed new skills trying to keep food from being bland and boring
 
Sorry to hear that @Shar67

A question that's coming up for me this week is whether or not juicing some vegetables would helpful. From what little reading I've done, fruits and vegetables have different enzyme profiles.

Glad you're at least able keep what you're eating interesting. :)
 
This is all good stuff, such a useful thread, which I am finding very useful at the moment :)
 
@winne 53: Im wondering if loss of function can be applied to pre-diabetes too. I think that when one function goes whacky, the other one does too. Im using pineapple and papaya suppléments. Seems to be doing the trick


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
The article is really great


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
@shar 67: could you say a little about minerals that need to be taken?


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
@Alicki good questions. I'm tagging @Shar67 for you. Oh, which article are your referring to that's "great"?

I can't speak for Shar, but I take a whole foods multi vitamin and mineral supplement. I also take additional magnesium, 450 to 600 mg magnesium citrate a day, 150 mg with breakfast, 300 mg with dinner. I'm thinking about adding zinc too but need to research how much, what form, how often, and whether or not to take it with or without food or specific supplements - (I believe zinc and copper compete with each other so need to be taken seperately).

I think by the time we develop any blood glucose problems, including hypoglycemia, the sooner we move into action the better to turn things around. My journey began with hypoglycemia 35+ years ago, later developing into gestational diabetes, then pre-diabetes, and now type 2 diabetes. Oh how I wish I knew then what I know now. Interestingly, my 28 year old son already has abnormally high triglycerides, so will be slowly educating him over the next couple of years. :)
 
@Alicki, in my case I have severe vitamin D deficiency, you need help from panc enzymes to get Vit d into body, my bones ache from my toes to my head, I have lost 2 inches in height I'm 49. I take supplements and go out for 20 minutes with as much as my body exposed to the sun, my levels have remained at low level despite this, I was prescribed a stronger supplement but as my body wasn't using it, liver was struggling to process it out (liver is damaged) so I became ill. Vitamin D helps with absorbtion of calcium
Vitamin Bs especially 6 and 12 when panc isn't working these 2 missing makes it hard to digest food and the body struggle to get cells working at full potential, my metabolism runs about 48 hours late, that is, a normal meal takes between 8/12 hours to completely digest mine is 2 days, if indeed it does digest. I vomit a lot during day, my teeth are near done, I have had them lined to keep them from shattering. My short term memory is shot
When panc started dying I had very low potassium levels, though at that point I wasn't diabetic, I had to have IV infusion of that and it felt like acid was being forced into me.
I did take Berrocca but it started coming straight back up so had to stop
In my opinion and I'm not medically trained, if you lack any vitamin or mineral your body will struggle, the best way of getting them is in your diet, but digestive issues cause havoc with that.
A blender is your best friend, banana and cucumber actually go well together. Alcohol is a no no, before you take any supplement go to GP to test levels and check on them regularly.
 
@Shar67 I can't remember where on the forum I shared my friend's 50+ year problem with slow digestion, and in her case constipation, - (she went from specialist to specialist, nothing helped) - but the important part is that when she started juicing celery and drinking its juice everyday, her problem completely resolved. Interestingly, if she stops, the problem returns. Don't know if this would be helpful for you.

I really appreciate you sharing your struggles with your health Shar. It's always informative. I'm learning from you. Thank you. :)
 
Thank you ladies. Here's my story, any feedback would be helpful: I lost 20 kilo due to a health anxiety issue in 2013-2014. I had sleep apnea but they couldn't figure it out, headaches one year non stop. In 2015, I put all the weight back on, I was on an antidepressant until December 2015. . In 2016, I began feeling extremely nauseous after eating sugar, first refined and then any kind. We found out that I produce too much insulin and am insulin resistant HOMA 4. Normal is up to 2.44. Then came hypos but not real hypos, only 4, but even at 4, I feel super anxious, sweaty and must eat.
Then came the inability to digest food, especially fats and carbs, without taking digestive supplements (papaye and ananas). I've had MRI, gastroscopy, extensive blood tests (they only found Gilbert's syndrome). I'm due for a EUS - endoscopic ultrasound on 6 July but if that doesn't turn up anything, then the theory is that it's metabolic syndrome due to extreme weight changes that's putting pressure on my organs. Seems logical.....
Meanwhile, I've put myself on a low carb, low fat diet (can't digest high fats but am eating fish, avocado, olive oil and taking fish oil + magnesium+ vit E, probitiocs, vit D) + berroca. Had iron shots earlier. Doc is testing levels. And I'm too

Docs are beginning to give up, so I was really interested in the enzyme discussion. I'm concerned about having got chronic pancreatitis because of the inability to digest fats and that I digesting fats sends off a "pancreatic attack" for better words, but nothing showing up in lipase and amalyse tests. But I'm guessing the EUS will shed more light on this.

Thank God for this forum because you bring together a wealth of knowledge. I'm on low carb and have progressed from 5.2 to 5.8 so my theory is that I'm progressing to diabetes (I don't eat starch nor any complex carbs nor refined carbs), so probably would be higher if I were....

Any advice on my situation would be great , I'm not asking anyone to diagnose me, even the docs are struggling.... But just advice on how to manage all this....

Many thanks,
Alicki

Ps: the great article is loss of endo function with diabetes


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
@Alicki I'm crashing, this is the second night I've stayed up to late... A few questions, then I'm going straight to bed. Did someone post a link to that article? Sorry if I'm being dense...

If you don't digest fat and carbs well, why not take a digestive enzyme that includes lipase and amylase?

When you say you're not digesting well, what does that mean? Is it taking a lot longer? Or something else?

Perhaps I'll be more helpful if I can get a good nights sleep. :)
 
They stay on my intestins, cause pain and inflammation. We re not there yet with lipase and amalyse. I still have to see the pancreatic doc about that. It's not normal to lose exocrine function like that!


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
The article is higher in the thread


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Alicki said:
They stay on my intestins, cause pain and inflammation. We re not there yet with lipase and amalyse. I still have to see the pancreatic doc about that. It's not normal to lose exocrine function like that!


Sent from my iPad using DCUK Forum mobile app
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear you're in pain. Good to hear you're having this investigated. And I do understand your hesitancy to try any natural remedies for now. I also would want to understand what's causing the problem before trying to treat it. These things take time. I hope you'll come back and post what you learn with each new evaluation.
 
Back
Top