Living with Ileostomy and Diabetes: A Personal Journey

I was a reasonably fit and athletic 20 year old when I developed UC in 1966 and I had 2 young children. After 8 years suffering the symptoms we all know so well, we ( my wife & me ) decided upon the surgery that would leave me with THE BAG.

Eventually I decided that the only way that I could accept this state was to challenge it- anything that I could do before the op, I would do after it.

So I ate whatever and whenever I wanted, drank whatever, whenever I wanted, swam, dived from a high board, dived from the side of a small ship, hiked, camped etc etc.

i also started playing rugby again and played until I was 47, going on tours to St. Louis, Montreal, and Prague

I have walked I in Scotland,the Pyrenees, the Drakensbergs and most hills in England.

All the time challenging myself & the bag. Then after breaking my nose playing rugby, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I decided that I did not want this and so decided that I would challenge this.

But diabetes is an insidious disease that cannot be challenged and ignored and just gets progressively worse and I am now insulin dependant, but still find it hard to follow the rules, even though I know that for my own health I should.

There is also the fact that one of the symptoms of diabetes is a thirst, and boy, I've always been thirsty,so I think that it's a very strange God that gives a man who likes a drink a disease that makes him thirsty!

I also think that the diabetes may have been caused by 8 years on high doses of steroids

I hope that I'm not whinging or rambling too much

ignore anything below this as I can't delete it

All

All the time challenging myself & the bag.

Then.

Hello Monsieur,

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November 2013 and was prescribed Metformin, which made me ill, so I have controlled my diabetes with diet, basically a high fibre diet and no simple carbs eg; sugar, white bread, cereals, you get my drift, and I lost 5 stones.  The benefit of that is that my diabetes went into remission.

Then a year ago I had to have a good portion of both small and large bowel removed which resulted in wicked diarrhoea, so, I had to adjust my diet to low fibre.  My BS numbers have raised by about 1 point most of the time but I really need to eat high fibre.

At the moment I am waiting to have a colostomy as no meds. have worked in controlling the diarrhoea which has made me housebound.  I have read that some people can't eat a high fibre diet when they have an 'ostomy and I am hoping I will be one of the lucky ones and be able to go back to eating salads and foods to suit my diabetes and stay in remission, and be able to stop eating low fibre foods (carbs) again.  It's like being between the devil and the deep blue sea!!

My diabetes runs in my family, so I guess it was only a matter of time.

You really must take your diabetes seriously.  I know it's hard to follow the rules but it does pay off.

Take care

Beshlie

I have had an ileostomy for 13 years and a urostomy for 6.  I also have diabetes and while in the hospital this time, I relented and talked to a dietician.  She gave me this ridiculous diet and after we talked some more, we agreed that I should limit my carb intake, eat numerous small meals and snacks instead of big meals and limit my fluid intake from 30 minutes prior to eating until 30 minutes after. After doing this in the hospital for two days, my blood sugar levels were 130 (even within 2 hours after eating).  I have been out of the hospital for over two weeks, and this is the best I have felt in 13 years.  I do not take my blood sugar readings at all, I use the ileostomy output to judge this.  If it is real liquidy, and I am thirsty, it's my body flushing out the carbs. If I eat a carb balanced meal ( 70 grams), and limit my fluid intake, everything is fine.  I've also managed to lose five pounds without even trying to.

Mike Sugar

Aurora, Colorado

Hello Mike,

Thanks for your reply.   I mainly keep my BS levels within the non diabetes numbers but, at the moment because my diet is so limited with the 2 problems I must be missing out on lots of vitamiins and minerals.   I do make sure I have plenty of protein with chicken and fish but  can't tolerate vedgetables.  I am hoping when I have my colostomy I will be able to eat them.   The list for my surgery must be very long but that is not unusual in England with the NHS!

Take care and stay well.

Beshlie