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Type 2 DM and elevated liver enzymes?

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Posted 4/20/2011 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I've been a type 2 diabetic for around 20 years. I take amaryl and Januvia for the dm, and enalapril for blood pressure (which is always fine when I go to my dr appts) I had recently started taking a new vitamin (equate's version of centrum silver) but stopped it when this started. I recently had a really bad stomach ache and back ache. Went to the DR who did labs and an xray to rule out any disc problems (spine was fine) and my liver enzymes were elevated.
I know there are many different causes for this and the DR doing more labwork, but in the meantime, what should I do?
The pain is all gone now. (it's been 2 weeks, the pain lasted about a week but was on and off, now I get a little twinge occasionally but nothing major.
I'm eating more low fat and high fiber, is there more I should do while I'm waiting? Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks! :)

Post Edited (Meenie) : 4/20/2011 6:34:10 AM (GMT-6)
Posted 4/20/2011 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Meenie.  Welcome to the Forum.  From what I've read online about this, you're doing what you should be doing: seeing your doctor and having the lab tests.  And you've informed your doctor of all the meds you're taking, right?  Including the over-the-counter ones?  This is important especially if you're taking extra supplements, even pain meds like Tylenol.   If I were you, I would continue with your good eating routine and see what the other lab tests show.  I hope the tests come back fine.  Keep us informed, ok?
Posted 4/20/2011 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lanie :)
With my doctor's blessing, I had been taking a multi vitamin, multi Vitamin B, and Calcium. I stopped all of those and am only taking the prescription meds right now.
I'm just not sure if there are certain foods that SHOULDN'T be eaten with this, or some that SHOULD. :) Is exercise good? I've been walking about 1/2 mile each day since the weather has gotten nicer.
but didn't want to push it too much.
Posted 4/20/2011 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
I think you're fine staying away from fatty foods. Be sure to avoid alcohol and acetamenophen (check the labels on any OTC cold or pain medications you take.) They're starting to see a lof of liver damage from Tylenol now.
Posted 4/20/2011 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, as Judy said, sometimes we end up taking more of something because it's either in other combo-medications or we mix then not realizing we shouldn't.  For example, I was taking an anti-inflammatory for bursitis and than took an Exedrin before I realized I wasn't supposed to take aspirin.  I wasn't thinking about the aspirin in Exedrin.  Cold meds have lots of combinations of drugs, you need to be careful with those too.  Anyway, I don't think the walking is harmful unless you have pain and you think walking is aggravating the condition.  As always, ask your doctor first. 
Posted 4/20/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Judy and Lanie :)
I'm not much of a drinker - I probably have about 5 drinks a year, lol. If that. And I do stay away from Tylenol. The doc gave me aleve but I only took it a couple of times when my stomach was really hurting.

Judy, I see you have colitis. My sister was just diagnosed with that :( This past weekend she started bleeding rectally. The doctor took her right in for a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and found she had colitis. He put her on clear liquids and said it would either heal or it wouldn't! bummer!
Posted 4/27/2011 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
Meenie,
I'm in the same boat as you are with the elevated liver enzymes and my doctor put me on lean meat, lots of beans (especially black & red ones), tons of veggies, salads and soups. I'm avoiding all obvious carbs except oatmeal and a slice of home made whole grain sourdough each day. I'm slowly losing weight but my sugars went up. My doc told me to stop taking my glucose readings for about 3 to 6 months and just stay on track. She also approved of me taking 500mg of chromium picolinate twice a day to help my insulin and lower my triglycerides. I'm unable to do much exercise yet but as my weight drops and hopefully my $$$ condition improves I may get back to swimming at the Y. Good luck with this.
Posted 4/27/2011 12:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Jeannie!
I've followed a low carb diet for years but with this liver problem I'm trying to do low fat and I'm just floundering. I found a weight control oatmeal by Quaker at Walmart and it seems to do surprisingly well. I also found a lower carb cereal there by their Great Value brand - crunch oat squares. Most cereals are around 41 g of carb, this is 25 or 26. And I use Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk which is great - 40 calories and something like 2 or 3 carbs - it's awesome.
I'm trying to keep away from fatty meats and I'm finding it hard to figure out what to eat other than breakfast, lol!
My glucose levels have really changed and I think its because while my liver is inflamed it's not shoveling out so much glucose. My bg drops amazingly around 5pm every day, even though I eat a snack (a piece of fruit) around 2 or 3. And my morning bgs use to always be high because my liver would crank out glucose while I slept, but now it's not.
So some good points some not so good. The lower morning bg's are great, the big drop in the afternoon isn't - I have to be careful and make sure I always have something in my purse to bring it up. I've been taking my bg's very frequently now; my poor little fingers are yelling at me.
But none of this keeps me from wanting to eat :( and lettuce leaves, cucumber and celery get old real quick <sigh>
Low carb gave so many more choices :(
Thanks for your help! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one struggling with this, although sorry to hear too!
Posted 4/29/2011 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Meenie,
My whole family has gone on this food plan and we are all losing weight. Regular old fashioned oatmeal in the am with extra bran added, peanut butter and a bit of lowfat, sugar free yogurt is my usual breakfast. For salads we have gone all out. Anything green is fair game for salads! Mustard greens are awesome! Bok Choy, different cabbages, beet greens, kale, you name it! We use zucchini and yellow squash, mushrooms, spinach, red peppers, broccoli and cauliflower in the salads, too.

We've also started to make different dinner salads. Things that would go on a pizza make a pizza salad. I mix some garlic & italian seasoning into V-8 to make the "sauce" and then add Italian dressing. We make taco salad, "stir fry" salad.. And when we get sick of salad we make soups. Thinly sliced cabbage subs for noodles. Chicken can go on salad, in soup, on the grill. We make it spicy or "sweet" & sour with artificial sweetener & vinegar... What I try to do is think of a food I would like and then bend the recipe to my rules. It helps that we are all in this, four adults, and working together.

What keeps us on track is that my doc told me my health was probably indicative of the whole family, my hubby, daughter & son-in-law and then she asked me what we were doing to the three year old granddaughter with our food habits. Hit me right between the eyes with how unhealthy we had all become. It's a battle but we're trying.
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