Diabetes and Constipation

Constipation is a typical issue for diabetics. Find out the cause and what you may do to relieve it.

Diabetes can result in consistently elevated blood sugar levels, which can cause nerve damage and constipation. Constipation can be caused by a person's diet or medicine in some situations.

Living with diabetes necessitates paying close attention to all of your body's systems. Some diabetic problems can be avoided or treated with good blood sugar management.


What causes diabetic constipation?


Diabetes and constipation correlation

Poor blood sugar control over time may increase the probability and frequency of constipation.

Diabetes is known to cause nervous system damage over time. Diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage, can result from high blood sugar levels caused by type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Damage to the nerves that regulate the digestive tract can result in constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence.

Other causes of constipation include:


Medications

Many medicines, including those prescribed by doctors to diabetics, can cause constipation. This includes opioids for peripheral neuropathy pain, anticholinergics for bladder control, and calcium channel blockers for blood pressure regulation.


Poor nutrition

Constipation can also be caused by a bad diet. To have regular bowel motions, your body need a lot of insoluble fiber. This fiber is found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. If you reduce your carbohydrate intake to assist decrease your blood sugar, you may be sacrificing crucial fiber sources.


Dehydration

Diabetes causes your kidneys to work excessively to eliminate additional sugar from your system. You have to pee more frequently, which might cause dehydration. This makes bowel movements more difficult, and your body has difficulty moving it through your system.

According to certain research, up to 60% of diabetics suffer constipation. However, they point out that other researchers estimate that this syndrome affects 11-56% of diabetics.

The authors conclude that patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a greater chance of acquiring chronic constipation than the general population.


Constipation Treatment

Your first priority should be to bring your blood sugar under control. This can postpone or prevent further nerve damage in your intestines. As it turns out, many of the healthy choices that doctors prescribe to help control diabetes can also assist with constipation:


Natural options

  • Increasing your fiber intake.(whole grains, fruits, and veggies).
  • Drinking more water.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Gently massage your tummy.
  • Eating lesser quantities of food.
  • Yoga.

All of these can help the digestive system run more smoothly.

Laxatives

Laxatives can also help, but use them with caution. Consult your doctor before considering laxatives as a treatment option. Furthermore, manufacturers do not often make laxatives for long-term use, so using them for longer periods of time may be unsafe or ineffective.

Your doctor may be able to identify the least invasive remedy for your constipation. They might want you to try:

  • Stool softeners.
  • Lubricants.
  • Bulk-forming laxatives.
  • Osmotic laxatives.

Before using laxatives, see your doctor. Some are high in sugar, which might be problematic for diabetics. Other digestive issues, such as bloating, might be exacerbated by laxatives.


When to see a doctor

Regular constipation is usually nothing to worry about. Before visiting a doctor, a person who is experiencing problems passing stool might try  natural and over-the-counter therapies.

One should contact a doctor if at-home remedies are ineffective or if constipation persists for more than a few days.

One should visit a doctor if they suffer any of the following signs or symptoms:

  • Stools with blood.
  • Abdominal discomfort that never stops.
  • Fever.
  • Bleeding from the rectum
  • Vomiting.
  • Being unable to expel gas.
  • Decrease of weight without cause.
  • Lower back pains

Constipation can be an indication of poor long-term diabetes treatment, but it can also be caused by something as simple as a lack of fiber.

You may find that your constipation may be handled without medication by progressing from the simplest to the most intensive methods with the advice of your doctor.