Foods that are helpful for IBS and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, chances are you also have gut issues like constipation or bloating, you are not alone. Diabetes and IBS are common conditions which make it possible for someone to have both at the same time.
In fact, the two conditions act in similar places in the body. As Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves around the gut, which can lead to common IBS symptoms like:
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Excess gas
- Fatigue
The damage to the nerves around the gut can lead to these common gastrointestinal symptoms:
- nerves in the esophagus can cause heartburn and lead to difficulty swallowing.
- Those with type 1 diabetes are known to have a higher risk to contract Celiac disease. This leads people unable to tolerate gluten, which if digested can cause diarrhea.
Managing IBS when you also have Diabetes:
Those with both IBS and Diabetes would benefit from eating foods that contain high fiber contents which help stabilize blood sugar levels. Those with both conditions should also avoid high processed foods and or foods with high sugar contents.
Some examples of foods with high fiber are:
- Fruits
- Bananas
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Seeds
- Chia
- Flax
- Pumpkin
- Sesame
- Sunflower
- Nuts
- Vegetables
- Carrots
- Barley
- Potatoes
In conclusion, if you have both Diabetes and IBS this could mean that your blood sugar levels are not stable. Some symptoms can occur because of certain foods in your diet, others can lead to long-term problems like nerve damage to the GI tract.
See a medical professional if these symptoms continue or worsen.