Nutrition Tips for Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Type 1 Diabetes

Both Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Type 1 diabetes are greatly affected by diet. IBS is a functional disease that causes individuals to suffer many gastrointestinal problems. Most commonly, a person with IBS either has frequent-to-almost-constant diarrhea or constipation.

According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in children and young adults. It is caused by the body not producing enough insulin.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Eating for IBS is mainly a trial-and-error process that individuals must work through. The first few years are the worst, as the symptoms are new to the individual and he has yet to develop coping mechanisms for the more intense episodes.

  Still, there are some general rules that IBS sufferers seem to agree on to quell flareups and reduce symptoms.

  Since it is a functional disease--meaning that the intestines don't work properly when digesting and expelling waste--not only what you eat, but when and how much you eat can affect symptoms. Small, frequent meals seem to be easier on the digestion process. Eating until you are full or beyond full stresses the system, and can cause intense bloating and cramping in addition to the usual discomfort associated with IBS.

  A high fat or protein content in meals also tends to trigger severe symptoms. Fat is harder to digest, so it is believed that eating a fat-dense meal overtaxes the digestive system and triggers symptoms. Protein tends to be gas-producing, and IBS sufferers tend to have problems with bloating anyway. So high-protein meals may exacerbate cramping and bloating.

Type 1 Diabetes

• Carbohydrates all break down into glucose, or sugar, which requires insulin for digestion. So when you're planning meals for someone who has this type of diabetes, lower-carbohydrate content meals are best. Avoid foods with very high carbohydrates, especially those that contain many grams of sugar.

  Small, frequent meals are ideal for individuals with diabetes because they keep the blood sugar levels steadier throughout the day. Eating large meals can cause a rapid spike in sugar levels, while fasting for more than three hours can cause dangerously low dips in blood sugar.

Structuring Meals

• Since individuals with IBS tend to do best with higher-carbohydrate meals and individuals with Type 1 diabetes can't eat lots of carbohydrates, individuals with both conditions need to be strict about what they eat and when they eat it.

  Some common ground exists, as small and frequent meals work well for both conditions. However, balancing the ratio of carbohydrates to fat to protein will require testing of each individual's tolerance.

  With the help of some drugs and therapies that treat IBS, symptoms like bloating and cramping can be alleviated while the sufferer eats higher-protein and -fat meals. Keeping a close watch on blood sugar levels and insulin injections around mealtimes can help reduce the risks involved with Type 1 diabetes while allowing the individual to consume a healthy amount of carbohydrates. Eating fibrous vegetables that are low in all three types of nutrients can supplement the vitamins and minerals that are needed when following a restrictive diet. They also provide satiety, which helps control the urge to eat bigger meals.