Diabetic/chronic pancreatitis diet is a balancing act - to Patty

[Guest guest]

Patty,

The diet for a person with CP and diabetes is a challenging one, because the

two diets are so opposed. If you go low carb (low sugar) as a diabetic, it's

much easier to see lower BG's and it's easier to control. There are different

schools of thought on this, though. The American Diabete's Association

allows as many as 300 carbs per day in their diet. Dr. Bernstein's Diabetic

Solution Diet only allows for 30 carbs per day, and Atkins, which many

diabetic's follow, is also very low carb. I don't agree with the diet designed

by

the ADA, because it has so many carbs, and carbs will rise your blood sugar

faster, higher and longer than any of the other food groups.

Yet as a person with Chronic Pancreatitis, too, I need more carbs than the

normal diabetic, simply because I have to put such a limit on my fat and

protein consumption......there's nothing left to substitute with, except carbs!

So what I follow is called a " moderate carb " diet by the low carbers. I'll

consume between 90 - 110 carbs a day. Regarding my CP diet, I have raised

my fat limit from 20 grams a day to 30, without any pain penalties. Since

pancreas burnout, I've found that I can eat more fat than ever before, without

incident, but I've grown accustomed to a low fat diet and think it's healthier

for

me in the long run, so I see no personal reason to go back to the land of

higher fats and heavy protein.

It's a balancing act, but it can be done, and done successfully. My last hbA1c

was 5.6%.

By now you're post surgery....I hope it all turned out well for you. You SLEPT

IN THE HOSPITAL the last time???? Amazing....that's the one thing I can

never do! They are constantly coming in and out and there are so many

noises that I'm usually exhausted by the end of my stay and can't wait to get

home and into my own bed. Lucky you!

Good luck with your smoking cessation. I've never been able to kick the cig

habit, myself, usally by day three I'm dragging my IV pole, with the pain pump

attached, and either being wheeled in a chair or on my own two feet headed

off to the smoking area. At the last hospital it was all the way at the

opposite

end of the corridor, down in the elevator, and out the side door to a gazebo at

the edge of the parking lot. You had to be dedicated and able to maneuver all

obstacles if you wanted to smoke!

I'm anxious to hear how you're doing. How long were you supposed to be in

hospital? Give us a shout as soon as you're able.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion

only, and should not be subsituted for consultation with a medical

professional.

Carol wrote:

> If you guys can't eat fat or sugar...what do you eat? I am not diabetic so I

live

on Honey Nut Chex and skim milk. No pain with that. I am asking because I

have a 25% chance of coming out of this

as a diabetic.