Mild Crohn's and type 2 Diabetes

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

carolhew

carolhew

Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
269
Hi all,

I was just wondering if there any others here with Crohn's and type 2 diabetes. I was recently diagnosed in June and would love some advice on coping with 2 chronic diseases. I have been on oral meds for the diabetes for the last 6 yrs and am on budnesonide for the Crohn's.

Carol
 
I Carol and welcome to the forum. I am not a diabetic, but like you, I also suffer from two chronic diseases. In addition to the Crohn's Disease, I also have asthma. Dealing is any chronic illness is a drag, but with two, you get a double dose. Please make yourself at home here. This is a terrific place to get support and information regarding Crohn's Disease.
 
Hi hon I have had diagnosed crohns for 13 years and also have high bp as well and osteopaenia so lots of meds lol. sending you a hug
 
Thank you AndiGirl and ronster! I am just fustrated because my blood glucose levels are elevated and my Internist says it is due to the inflammation caused by Crohn's. They are threatening insulin. I hated dealing with the diabetes and now the Crohn's shows up! Ugh!

Carol
 
Carol - my grandfather and I were just talking about this yesterday He has type 2 and I the Crohn's. We weren't sure how someone would be able to cope. My heart goes out to you!

<3
 
Hi carol- i have crohn's and type 1 diabetes on insulin. it's hard coping with two major problems, but you do learn to cope. i hope you do. it's all a learning experience all the way along. keep your head up. we are for you. keep us posted. best wishes
 
I forgot to mention this, Carol; Prednisone which is used to treat flare-ups with Crohn's Disease, is also used to treat asthma flare-ups as well. I wish I could help you out more in the area of Diabetes.
 
AndiGirl, I can't take Predisone it raises my blood glucose level too high! Predisone is how I found out I was diabetic. I had take a Predisone treatment for my allergies/asthma and my blood glucose sky rocketed, once off the Predisone I was able to control the diabetes with my diet for many years. I have been told that budnesoside ? (Entocort) will not raise blood glucose levels since it is not a systemic steroid. I am so thankful to have an alternate to the Pred!

Jessica, this is my dilema, the diets are opposites! Or I should say what they recommend for diabetes upsets the stomach. I will figure it out!

Scottmyster, my mother was a type 1 and dad was type 2. I am familiar with insulin and am not afraid of the injections. It will just me more closely monitoring my bg levels. Do you have to adjust your doses of insulin often?

Thanks everyone for the support!

Carol
 
Thank you for information Carol. It's good to know for future reference, and if there are other Crohnies with Diabetes.
 
since being on predisone i have had to adjust my insulin many times because they drive my sugars throught roof but i got it down to a science now so my between by diet i can't eat solid food so i drink a diabetic drink they make it now for diabetics the drink is boost and glucma. i check my sugars every couple of hours and i am able to control my insulin and sugars.
 
Scottmyster, Thank you! I figured you would have to monitor your bg levels closely and adjust your insulin accordingly. I hope to avoid predisone, but if needed I suspect I will definitely be put on insulin at that time.
 
carolhew said:
AndiGirl, I can't take Predisone it raises my blood glucose level too high! Predisone is how I found out I was diabetic. ....

Jessica, this is my dilema, the diets are opposites! Or I should say what they recommend for diabetes upsets the stomach. I will figure it out!



Thanks everyone for the support!

Carol
Click to expand...

Hi Carol,
I am there! I have had Crohn's since 1992 and now have had Type 2 for about 5 years. I was on metformin for several years but it bothered my intestines - really bad. I ended up in the hospital several times from the irritation, thinking it was Crohn's. That was a mess.

Most likely, prednisone contributed to my diabetes, and it could have for you also. Prednisone messes with your blood sugar levels, and after having been on Pred for a year or more several times, my poor endocrine system couldn't take it and I lost the battle with insulin resistance. I try to avoid taking Pred now when I am flaring, but the damage is done. I am very resentful about it. However, not sure I could change anything, except avoid sugar more before I lost the battle.

The diet IS really a struggle. I have even seen dieticians, and had very little luck. It is really a puzzle. How can you eat more fiber, and less carbs to help with the diabetes, and eat less fruits and veggies and watch the fiber for your Crohn's? I don't really know that answer.

I had my diabetes pretty controlled with diet, but with my recent flare, I am feeling like I am going to have to do something different. I tried a sulfonuride drug and that was horrible for me. I felt like I was on a sugar roller coaster. I literally had to eat more, and consume sugar, to bring my blood sugar levels back up to where they needed to be every time I took the medicine. I was even waking up in the night with low blood sugar. It was awful!!

Have you been to an Endocrinologist? They are the best doctors to help you manage DM. I haven't been to one for years, but I am thinking about going back. A GP is nice, but they really don't have the expertise for this complicated of a problem, though they feel like they do and are most often the doctors that treat people with DM.

In addition to DM and Crohn's, I also have Fibromyalgia, hypothyroid, GERD, actual insomnia (the kind where you don't fall into a restorative sleep even though you sleep at night), and serious allergies that seem to contribute to my flares somehow.

I hate being a sicky. It seems like if one is not bothering me, another one is!! LOL!! I have a friend that always says, "I don't know how you do it." But, I don' know any alternative. I have to get up and live each day, though some days it is only from my recliner.

Hang in there!!!

If I find a good diet, I will send it your way!
 
Hello,
I have crohns and when on more than 10 mg Pred I develop steroid induced diabetes. All my mothers family except one have type 2 diabetes.
My crohns is small bowel and high fibre and fatty foods upset my darling bowel so my diet can be very problematic. I am quite under weight but have to avoid fat and fibre fir crohns and sugar with diabetes .. And should take fibre for the diabetes. So I eat lots of low residue fruit and veg- root veg, melon,cooked apples/pears and have protein snacks.
Once the crohns starts settling you can add in more if the food that is better fir the diabetes- I only add one new thing at a time.
Ps excuse spelling mistakes
 
Sunflower... I am currently taking metformin and Januvia. Metformin use to tear me up too! I found if I buy it at the Walgreens it does not bother me, but if I buy it at Costco it tears me up. So much for saving a few bucks! I have seen an endocrinologist in the past and I see one in my future! lol I can see these 2 diseases having negative effects on each other.

Beach...I was able to control my bg levels with diet alone for 6 yrs. The disease has progressed and now I need oral meds.

Littlemissh....I have mild Crohn's in my terminal ileum and yes fiber is evil! Prior to being diagnosed, I tried to eat more high fiber foods and would be miserable. Thanks for suggesting the low residue diet, I will have to give it a try. I read that you have been having quite the struggle lately! I hope you will beat that bug soon!
 
Crohns & Type 2 Diabetes

Hi Carol

I have Crohn's since 1976 & type 2 Diabetes since 2003. Presently on oral drugs for both. Can be prone to perianal abscesses, have an open fistula following surgery four years ago. Recently diagnosed with Diabetic Nephropathy.

Do you have problems with your diet? It seems to me that what's good for Crohn's upsets the Diabetes and vice versa.

I would be interested in hearing about any similar problems.

Regards

Ian
 
Yes, Ian, diet with these two disease can be quite a struggle. What is good for one, is sometimes not good for the other. Protein is good for both, so I try to eat a lot of that. Eggs bother me, but they are good for you. Lean meats, chicken, fish, etc. It is hard to feel full sometimes, without that carb though for me. So, I indulge in low sugar yogurt at times to help with the sweet tooth! Okay, other things too, but I like no sugar added ice creams and such, so I think that helps a bit. Cooked fruits and veggies don't seem to bother my intestines as much. I miss giant salads, and do eat lettuce at times, but only with varying degrees of success.

Carol, I am glad you found a metformin that works for you. I am scared to try it again! I was in so much pain... I have thought about Januvia, and it seems like there is another one that is sort of new that is an injection. I had a script for Actos, but I never took it. My bg is pretty good as long as I stay away from too much starch and sugar, AND prednisone!
 
Ian, yes it is a struggle!!! As far as diet goes if it doesn't upset my stomach, I shouldn't eat it because of the diabetes. For me I am still in the trial and error phase with food. Salads are a big no go for me too!

I am sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with nephropathy, what is your treatment plan. My GP had me taking a high blood pressure med to ward off nephropathy, but it made me so dizzy.

Sunflower, I still take metformin but have dropped the Januvia. Endo added Victoza which is an a daily injectible. Side effects are nausa, like I don't already have that. My bg levels have really come down.

For my Crohn's I am now down to 6 mg of budesonide and have added 1500 mg of Pentasa. Still no remission. So I see a medication adjustment in my future.
 
Hi Carolhew, and all with crohn's and type 11 diabetes, I have had crohn's since 1966, half bowel removed 1976 (not diagnosed for ten years), and type 11 since 2006, right kidney removed April, 2011, due cancer, gastroesohageal reflux disease, since2007, hiatus hernia also diagnosed at that time, and I am to be hospitalised on Monday 12th December, for complete removal of the remaining bowel on 13th, due flat polyp on the bowel which is also cancerous

I take 3x 50mg azothiaprine daily for the crohn's
2x cliclazide 80mg tablets, daily for the type 11
2x omeprazole 20mg capsules, daily, for the reflux
olmesarta and felodipine for high blood pressure 1 of each, daily
I do not drink cows milk, use Soya substitute instead, this made a huge improvement regarding the crohn's.
As for diet, I don't, but go easy on dairy products, stick entirely to porridge for breakfast, in water, no salt, and always have my " five a day".
I have had no pain since the removal of half bowel (which had been dreadful for ten years) since 1976.
No symptons etc re' the cancers, feel as fit as a rat catchers dog, have no fears re the forthcoming operation, just a little uneasy about coping with the stoma pouch initially.
Good luck to all, and Happy Xmas too, and whatever else, do not neglect your tummy pains, insist on a proper diagnosis.

jack dusty

(Peter)
 
Peter, Sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery. I will keep you in my thoughts and wish you a speedy recovery. I too avoid milk, other dairy does not seem to bother me. I agree, listen to your tummy. Happy Holidays!
 
Hi Carolhew, many thanks for your good wishes, and I hope your problems are soon under control too.

My type 11, is well controlled with 2x 80mg Gliclazide tablets daily, and excercise, (I don't), definately brings down the meter readings.

I had a massive flare up of the crohn's some years ago due to a GP prescribing an anti-inflamatory (diclofenic, or similar) for joint pains, this caused me to toilet 17-20 times a day, with awfull diarrhea for 7, yes, (seven) years.

This only eased when my wife bought unsweetened Soya (alternative to dairy milk) for me and within two days my visits to the loo, were down to 3/4 times daily, and within two weeks later, down to 2/3 times a day, for the past 5 years or so I generally go no more than twice a day, and rarely with diarrhea.

I would heartily recommend anyone with crohn's to at least try that.

best wishes to all

jack dusty (Peter)
 

Similar threads

L
Isolated Perianal Crohn’s - new here
Replies
1
Views
724
MrWheat
M
P
How long on EEN before your child had solid motions again
Replies
5
Views
794
padrach3
P
B
Crohn's disease inflammation
Replies
10
Views
660
Scipio
Scipio
T
Crohns disease and Lactose Intolerance
Replies
8
Views
1K
ronroush7
ronroush7
L
First proper flare since Crohns diagnosis
Replies
7
Views
2K
Trishke
T

Latest posts

Back
Top