Gastroparesis Diet for Delayed Stomach Emptying

 In most instances the diet(s) for gastroparesis are the opposite for those of diabetes control.  While fiber and low carbs are recommended for diabetes, with moderate fat being acceptable, low/no fiber and very low-fat are recommended for gastroparesis.  While whole grains are stressed for diabetes, whole grains are not recommended for gastroparesis.

This is only one challenge for blood glucose control.  Delayed stomach emptying also causes problems because you never know when the food will digest and raise the numbers.  Even insulin is problematic under these circumstances, and other oral drugs that stimulate insulin production are as well.

And yet I know some people who mange to keep their A1C’s in the 5.0 – 6.0 range.  With a lot of work and experimentation.   

It’s also recommended that you eat very small frequent meals throughout the day.  Every 2-3 hours if possible. 

Here’s a link to an excellent diet developed by a doctor.  It’s in various stages according to the severity of your condition.

http://gicare.com/diets/gastroparesis-diet/

This was the best diet I could find, and I think it will be very helpful and easy to follow.

Here are some other tips:

Gastroparesis interferes with your ability to grind, mix, and digest your food properly. These guidelines may help reduce the side effects:

• Consume small, frequent meals, four to six times/day
• Limit fiber foods to 10 grams (g)/day, avoiding:
  • Foods such as cabbage and broccoli, which tend to stay in the stomach
  • High-fiber foods, when you have severe symptoms
• Eat low-fat foods, and avoid foods high in fat—fats, including vegetable oils, naturally cause a delay in stomach emptying
• Choose nutritional supplements with <10 g of fat/can for extra calories and protein (examples: Ensure®, Glucerna®, Carnation® Instant Breakfast®, and Slim-Fast®)
• Chew food thoroughly; sometimes ground or pureed meats are tolerated better
• Do not lie down for at least 1 hour after meals
• Consume most liquids between meals
• Try to keep a daily routine—stress can bring on or worsen symptoms
• Pay attention to symptoms—sometimes taking a slow-paced walk can help
• Keep a food record of foods that cause distress, and try to avoid those foods
• Review all medications and over-the-counter products with your doctor—some medications can slow down digestion
• Focus on meals that have little odor, if food odors trigger nausea; try foods such as:
  • Cold foods and cold sandwiches
  • Foods that are grilled outdoors
• Avoid the following, which can irritate the lining of the stomach and result in acid reflux:
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Spicy foods
  • Mint
• Keep your blood sugar under control, if you have diabetes, and let your doctor know if your blood sugar consistently runs higher than 200

It will be necessary to talk with your doctor about glucose control and methods that might help.  You can also find tips on some of the support web sites, tips from people suffering from the same condition are often more helpful.  They walk the talk.

Lizzy

© EMO 4/12

Knowledge is Power