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Low carb options for someone who can not eat fruits and vegetables?

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Posted 5/4/2017 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I used to go on the Crohns board here. I am 26+ years diagnosed with Crohns....mostly controlled by limited meds and eating only what does not cause a flair. The only fruits I eat that do not bother my gut (unless a bad day) are baby food bananas and applesauce. Pretty much every vegetable is a problem no matter how well cooked/pureed (I had 2 ER visits due to trying very well cooked carrots). I have called myself a carbetarian as toast is my safest food. I am very lucky and can eat dairy in small amounts (huge ice cream fan), I eat chicken and pork and fish. I avoid deep fried as it is not kind to my gut either

So....had a blood test and my A1C is in the 6.2 range. GP says you need to go on a low carb diet or we will consider meds. Well that leaves me coffee, chicken and ice cream it seems.

I am on enough meds now. I am trying to walk more (joint issues hinder too much activity). I am seriously considering just not eating---OK only sort of seriously. My big question is...what to eat if I can't do fruits and veggies? I've done some research, but would appreciate some actual living with it advice. Thanks for listening....
Posted 5/4/2017 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi HabsHockeyFan and welcome to the diabetes Forum. This is a tricky problem because you're dealing with two conditions that have certain food limitations. I can only tell you about food and your blood sugar and from that you'll have to see what's best for Crohn's, too. I honestly am not familiar with food for a Crohn's plan.

The bottom line for blood sugar control is the amount of carbs you eat. The lower the amount, the better your blood sugar will be controlled. Carbs from any source raise blood sugar.

So, here are the guidelines for low-carb eating: no potatoes, limited root vegetables, no rice or products made with grain flour or sugar. This last group means no bread, pasta, crackers, breading, bagels, cake, cookies, etc. Milk products like ice cream with sugar will raise blood sugar but sugar-free is fine.

Most other vegetables are ok. Can you eat mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and bell peppers? Leafy greens are good. In the fruit group, berries work best for us but bananas, pears, melons, etc. are high carb.

If you eat packaged food, look at the labels and choose the ones with the least carbs and the ones not made with flour or sugar.

Protein sources are good although beans can be high carb and should be limited. Natural peanut butter or any of the nut butters with no added sugar are good. All meat, poultry and fish are fine. Other seafood are good - and I'm talking about carbs. If you are avoiding cholesterol in food, then you have to limit shrimp. Seeds are fine.

Pickles (not the sweet ones - again, they have sugar added) and olives are great. Radishes and celery are fine; sometimes we don't think of those as vegetables!

So, go to the produce section and look at what's there. For your blood sugar, you could probably eat most of what you see except for the potatoes and other root veggies.

I wish I could help more!
Posted 5/4/2017 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lanie - Crohns diet is different for each person. For me...I am no fiber, but limited dairy and it is different depending on the day.
Unfortunately, your 3rd paragraph lists the "nos" and they are all my safe Crohns foods. BRAT - bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast is a common diet for Crohns folks especially in a flair up. I can't find a fruit or vegetable that doesn't bother me. You would think mushrooms would be tame, but even 4 slices of button mushroom on a piece of chicken has made issues.
From your note, I am looking at chicken, pork and seafood as the only foods that work on both diets. Sigh.

Just got back from a 15 minute lunch break walk. Hoping adding a few more steps will help keep the meds away.
Thanks again.
Posted 5/4/2017 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
And on top of all this, you say it's also an individual matter with Crohn's. Same with diabetes. Some people can eat popcorn and some can't. (Of course, I'm not taking into account if those people are on meds for diabetes...)

So, it's almost like you would be on a paleo diet? In a nutshell regarding blood sugar friendly food, these are ok:

- meat, poultry and fish
- leafy greens
- no white food except cauliflower (this refers to potatoes and food made with flour and sugar)
- vegetables but limited root vegetables (beets, carrots, parsnips, etc.)
- eggs
- nut butters including peanut butter (no sugar added)
- different kinds of cheeses including cream cheese


If you have a blood sugar meter, then you could use that for testing before eating and a couple of hours afterward. You are the best judge of what you can eat with Crohn's, so hopefully you'll be able to find something on the acceptable list for diabetes/blood sugar.

Good luck and come back and post any questions you have!
yeah
Posted 5/5/2017 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Lanie...I can't thank you enough. I was pretty downtrodden before you answered my posts. I feel a lot less frustrated now.

Eggs! Didn't think of that as an option. I love them and they are good on both diets. And I also like cheese and will try a natural peanut butter.

This is like 1991 for me...when I was first diagnosed with CD, the list they gave me of never eat again foods was enormous. I cried for days. I guess I forgot about that...this was the same feeling. There are options...it is just going to take some time to figure out what works. I can do this! Thank you from talking me back to confidence!
Posted 5/5/2017 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Habs! I can't imagine your frustration and I wish I could help more but as I wrote the only thing I can do is tell you about food that will not raise your blood sugar and hopefully you'll be able to create a food plan that won't bother the Crohn's. Life sometimes gives us a rotten deal but there are ways to overcome it!

yeah We can chat anytime!
Posted 6/20/2017 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I too have Crohn's (36 years) and have been testing my A1C for one year now. I completely understand where you are coming from, as I am in the same boat. My GI told me to stay away from artificial sweateners as they ferment in the large intestine.

All the best

Julia
Posted 6/21/2017 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome, Julia. How are your lab tests now?
Posted 6/21/2017 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lanie,

Thank you for the warm welcome. I saw my GI today and he looked up my bloodwork from last Friday and A1C was 10. Over the past year it has been 6 when tested every 3 months. He told me it is steroid induced diabetes and need to go back to the endocrinologist for help. He also said with my numbers he felt I don't need insulation but maybe glucose pills. What do you think about Metamorfin and/or sitagliptin? He also did an in office scan on my liver that checks for scar tissue. I'm glad you are here as you are very knowledgeable with diet etc., because I'm going to need advice. Habs, how are you doing? Are you on Diabetes meds?

All the best,
Julia
Posted 6/21/2017 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Good morning, Julia. Yes, please see the endo because an A1c of 10 is much too high. Steroids may help with some conditions but they can cause others (like diabetes) over long-term use.

The basic approach would be diet and exercise because these two can help bring blood sugar under more control. If the blood sugar is still too high with that, then diabetes meds should be prescribed.

Please re-read the food suggestions in this thread and also the stickies at the top of our forum for more information. The link to the website in my signature will also give you a lot of information about blood sugar, food, research, etc.

I'm glad you posted. Although I can't help you with Crohn's, I can help you with getting your blood sugar but I realize food can be tricky!
Posted 10/25/2017 2:41 AM (GMT 0)

HabsHockeyFan said...
Hi! I used to go on the Crohns board here. I am 26+ years diagnosed with Crohns............................... I am seriously considering just not eating---OK only sort of seriously. My big question is...what to eat if I can't do fruits and veggies? I've done some research, but would appreciate some actual living with it advice. Thanks for listening....

Hi Habs, don't know if you will see this as thread is months old. But with "I am seriously considering just not eating", you might be closer to something than you think. Not sure about with Crohn's, but various degrees of intermittent fasting seem to work pretty well with T2 diabetes. There is an MD, Dr. Jung, who claims to have great success treating T2D with that approach. Here is his website, if links are allowed:
/idmprogram.com/

Here is his book, which I found very interesting: /www.amazon.ca/Complete-Guide-Fasting-Intermittent-Alternate-Day/dp/1628600012

Hope you are having some success!

Bill
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