Contradictions in need.

Sorry to hear t hat Dee. I have had similar gut problems for decades but until recently had always resisted medication. Last time it was so bad I agreed to take it and it seems to have solved my problem more or less. Budesonide. A bloomin miracle. I wonder if it’s the same as you took.?

As for pre diabetes, I hope you can sort this out. I dont think I had a test after to check and wonder now whether I should have had one.

I have Crohn’s/UC mostly affecting lower GI tract. It can be a hard slog to get a period of successive flare ups under control. I have now been in remission for over three years but have been through some very difficult years in and out of hospital for IV meds so I understand what you may have been going through.

I have eaten a plant-based diet all my adult life so commenting on other people’s diets which may contain animal products (or ultra-processed foods) isn’t something I can advise on. What I would say is that I don’t believe that my flare ups were diet-related or that diet made that much difference.

My flare ups have always coincided with periods when I was put under a great deal of stress. Stress increases immune system response. The more stress the more your immune system is attacking your body. If you can try to reduce stress as much as possible then you may find the UC starts to settle down requiring a less aggressive drug regime and all the side effects that come with that.

Your hospital GI team should have someone who can give you dietary advice. Have you spoken to an IBD specialist nurse? Or maybe a call to the Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s helpline 0300 222 5700. I have always found the people there very helpful. Here’s their advice sheet about food:

tinyurl.com/4yt7wvf9

As you have mentioned diabetes, key to note what it says about sugar and fats:

Try to limit the amount of high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt foods you eat, especially animal fats and processed meats.

You do not need to limit how much fibre you eat, unless you have a narrowing in your gut called a stricture.

That said, it's important to consider what kinds of fibre you eat. It's the refined carbs and sugar that are bad in any diet.

Thanks for the replies.... with my UC, I felt as though the flare up would never end!
Steroids, infusions etc.
The drug which seems to be working is Rinvoq! Still early days but positive up to now.
My IBD team suggested the dietary changes which weren't too many as my diet was pretty good anyway but it is lower in fibre.
However now I'm being told to increase that because of the pre- diabetes?!
I've asked for a referral to a dietician but am told there's quite a wait!

It’s a horrible disease that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

There is a lot of general advice re diet and drugs but but it can be contradictory and what works for some many not work for others.

I would say that if the Rinvoq is working then prioritise whatever is necessary to control your blood sugar levels. It may not need much change if your diet is otherwise good.

I would ignore the pre-diabetes thing. Twice I've been told I'm pre-diabetic and to change my diet- which is pretty healthy anyway.
I went on a course once but that got cancelled after two sessions.
No one mentioned my blood sugars again for year despite many blood tests.
Then last year I was told again by a doctor over the phone that my latest bloods showed I was diabetic and told to see the diabetic nurse who said I wasn't diabetic but still pre-diabetic.
I modified my diet a little but that was six months ago and haven't had a blood sugar test since.
I really feel they tell everyone they're pre-diabetic because that's where the current funding is.
It sounds to me like you are dealing well with your chronic conditions and have a healthy diet.
If your GP practice isn't prepared to monitor your blood sugars then I would just carry on as you are.

With respect, that isn’t good advice. Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of diabetes. Taking Prednisone (steriods - which OP says she has and is usually the first intervention used in treating IBD) can make the liver resistant to insulin, raising blood sugar levels and potentially leading to steroid-induced diabetes.

Yes, TinSoldier after almost a lifetime on steroids I agree, but with respect I was just relating my personal experience of living with chronic illness all my life. I may or may not develop full blown diabetes, only time will tell, but meanwhile I'll keep doing what I'm doing and only advised the OP to do the same.

I've had debilitating IBS for decades and have issues with endometriosis adhesions interfering with my colon. When I was also diagnosed diabetic, I really struggled. Thankfully I was referred to a dietitian, who has really helped. High fibre was a no no due to IBS, so she guided me on safe types of fibre. I'd thought I needed to cut out all carbs, due to a percentage turning to sugar, but she helped me see that extreme diets are really no help at all. Avoiding processed sugar and trying to choose foods without very high amounts of natural sugars is enough. Everyone is different, so I would really suggest seeing a dietitian, who can tailor their advice to your particular needs. Good luck.

Luckily I've never had diabetes, but i do have trouble with conflicting dietary requirements. I have severe constipation from medication for some ailments but I also have adhesions and the dietary advice for each problem is the complete opposite of each other. I just put up with the consequences and am just happy if I get a good day. Sometimes there are no answers.

My daughter has UC and has mostly kept it under control with a low carb diet. Everyone is different of course but that might help you in conjunction with something like psyllium supplements (psyllium is fibre but seems to have specific effects which helps those of us with bowel problems - mine is BAM/BAD).

Have a look at Diabetes UK. There is a diet which doesn't use carbs so is low in fibre and many people who are diabetic swear by it. You can see what it is about here: www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/a-new-low-carb-guide-for-beginners.68695/

There is also a programme you can follow which gives you eating plans.

I havr heart disease, type 2 diabetes and irritable bowel, I've yet to find a diet that fits all, instead I opt for everything in moderation and no problems so far, blood sugars and cholesterol are stable with the help of meds

I was borderline diabetic but increasing walking reducing sugar got me back to below prediabetic levels

I have an ileostomy, as a result of ulcerative colitis. I have had it for decades, so I know what I can and can't eat. Anything high in fibre causes problems. I was told a few months ago that I am now pre-diabetic. All the dietary changes I can make to improve my blood sugar seem to involve stuff that would, at the very least, make my ileostomy leak and would probably cause blockages. Not to mention the discomfort involved.

I have talked to a dietitian, who was nice but no help at all. I have another appointment in May but I'm not optimistic.

Sorry I can't be very helpful but, to be honest, I don't think there's an answer. Low fibre and low sugar diets just seem to be incompatible.

keepingquiet

I would ignore the pre-diabetes thing. Twice I've been told I'm pre-diabetic and to change my diet- which is pretty healthy anyway.
I went on a course once but that got cancelled after two sessions.
No one mentioned my blood sugars again for year despite many blood tests.
Then last year I was told again by a doctor over the phone that my latest bloods showed I was diabetic and told to see the diabetic nurse who said I wasn't diabetic but still pre-diabetic.
I modified my diet a little but that was six months ago and haven't had a blood sugar test since.
I really feel they tell everyone they're pre-diabetic because that's where the current funding is.
It sounds to me like you are dealing well with your chronic conditions and have a healthy diet.
If your GP practice isn't prepared to monitor your blood sugars then I would just carry on as you are.

The same has happened to my husband for some years but they always say he's pre-diabetic and want to send him on courses. Last year they also said I'm pre-diabetic but this year I'm fine. They're obviously spending a lot of money on this but I really do wonder if it is worthwhile.
His course was pretty useless, after six weeks or so one participant said that she had cut down to just one slice of cake at tea time.

Sorry to hear about your conditions, I only have experience of prediabetes but I see on the NHS site that stress exacerbates symptoms and that exercise and learning relaxation techniques are suggested. Stress is implicated in prediabetes too so tackling this seems a good thing for both. And regular exercise is good for so many things
Apart from it saying low fibre diet and small meals there do not seem to be any blanket dietary recommendations and that you should identify foods that cause problems on an individual basis
So ignore time restricted eating ideas, but exercise good for both and stress reduction likewise. Suggestion is you try and improve your sleep also for prediabetes
I'm sure that you can work out within the foods you can eat without problems and go on from there to address the prediabetes and prevent it tipping over into diabetes. You don't want all the issues this would bring in top of the UC
I did an online prediabetes course during lockdown, which was helpful and I learned a lot. Subsequently I have discovered the Freshwell programme, there is a free app and free online resources, it is a programme devised by a GP practice so there is a lot of science behind it
I hadn't realised before doing the course how carbohydrate in food is turned into sugars which affects your blood sugars, we probably all know to avoid sugary stuff but bread, pastry, etc affects the blood sugars too. And no fruit smoothies- and there was I thinking I was being healthy drinking smoothies and fruit juice. It's almost impossible to go no carb, so I look at the carbs in things, and if there is something a bit carb heavier than usual having protein and maybe some fat to slow down the absorption and sugar spike, with it can be helpful, and doing some walking afterwards, and now I have the blood sugars down I will sometimes have a baked potato with cheese and a bit of butter if I'm out for example. I've found a low carb bread, for times when I fancy a cheese toastie. Apparently if you reheat a potato the starch changes so is a bit better, frozen then toasted bread isn't as bad as bread straight out of the bag. If you cook there are lots of alternative ways of making many things. So I'd start from what you can eat and go from there. Even if you're not prediabetic it is better for your health to avoid sweet starchy foods.
I sometimes miss some of the things I used to eat, and do occasionally have a bit of birthday cake for example or a glass of wine at a wedding, and it is more special than if I ate cake every day so I probably enjoy it more

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Does anyone know of anyone who has had blood tests over the past few years for anything and who hasn't been told that they are pre-diabetic? I don't!!!!

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Barbadosbelle

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Does anyone know of anyone who has had blood tests over the past few years for anything and who hasn't been told that they are pre-diabetic? I don't!!!!

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Me, I've had loads of blood tests and diabetes has never been mentioned.

I feel for you, daughter has suffered with colitis for years. Has been hospitalised many times. She has an infusion once a month which seems to control her condition.

I can't really help with the food question here, but what I hope I can do is add a little cheery note to the thread.

My Dad had ulcerative colitis when I was just 3 months old. He had an ileostomy and was very ill. He was hospitalised for almost 9 months. Things were pretty primitive back in the early 1950's in terms of this nasty illness and the interventions available. The Doctors weren't terribly optimistic and gave an estimated life span of 10 - 15 years at best.

That was 1952. Just 8 years ago my Dad passed away aged 96. I never heard him complain ever. He led a full and active life and all the time my Mum was by his side she nurtured him and was careful with what he ate. My Mum passed away 11 years before my Dad - it was a huge shock as I always thought my Dad would go first.

He was a bit more "naughty" with his diet after Mum died, but he died really, of old age. Nothing to do with his underlying health condition. We think at the time he was the oldest surviving ileostomy patient.

I hope for those of you dealing with UC will take some comfort in this story.

Barbadosbelle

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Does anyone know of anyone who has had blood tests over the past few years for anything and who hasn't been told that they are pre-diabetic? I don't!!!!

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Me.

Our surgery told me I was pre- diabetic . I’ve always been quite careful as my granny andMum were diabetic and so is my brother. As two of my friends had the same diagnosis in the same week, I didn’t change anything. When the blood test was repeated, I was congratulated on ‘the changes’ as my blood test showed a normal reading. It’s like the statins push. Even if your cholesterol is normal, statins are pushed. It’s economics , not medicine.