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Taking Medicine For Type 2 Diabetes. Having Loose Stool. No Loss Of Appetite. What's Wrong?
Question: Hi Iam 54 year old female i have type 2 diabetes I have been taking metformin 500mgs 2 bd and ramipril 2.5 od for 4 years. since christmas i have had loose stools some times its formed but soft its also very smelly The colour is normal brown somtimes lighter in colour and i go just the once a day i think ive only been twice in one day 2 times no blood or pain no weight loss i feel well . blood sugars could be better but ok . i have no loss of appetite and noincreased thirst no sickness . I did have itchy skin but that seems to have stopped after the dr gave me some cream i dont need to use the cream now whats wrong with me ?
Hello, XXXXXXX,
You have been treated for Type-2 Diabetes for four years now.
The description of the consistency and the color, sometimes
being lighter indicates that you might have beginnings of what
we call "Pancreatic Insufficiency" . In other words, your pancreas
is not putting out or producing enough digestive enzymes to
digest fats and carbohydrates. So, your stool may have oily
particles, may look foamy and also float on the water in the
toilet bowl. You may even have XXXXXXX diarrhea called "Steatorrhea".
You say that your blood sugar levels are not perfect, that means
you need better control of your blood sugar. Dietary control
along with medications to regulate it properly. You need to be
physically active and get regular excercises.
You mentioned about itchy skin. One thing I want to stress ,
Diabetics have incresed incidence of gallstones. I suggest that
you get a sonogram of your gallbladder also to rule this out.
You can have a 72-hour stool collected for quantitating the
amount of fat and this will give an idea about your pancreas.
You can discuss all these with your doctor and take appropriate
measures.
I wish you well.
You have been treated for Type-2 Diabetes for four years now.
The description of the consistency and the color, sometimes
being lighter indicates that you might have beginnings of what
we call "Pancreatic Insufficiency" . In other words, your pancreas
is not putting out or producing enough digestive enzymes to
digest fats and carbohydrates. So, your stool may have oily
particles, may look foamy and also float on the water in the
toilet bowl. You may even have XXXXXXX diarrhea called "Steatorrhea".
You say that your blood sugar levels are not perfect, that means
you need better control of your blood sugar. Dietary control
along with medications to regulate it properly. You need to be
physically active and get regular excercises.
You mentioned about itchy skin. One thing I want to stress ,
Diabetics have incresed incidence of gallstones. I suggest that
you get a sonogram of your gallbladder also to rule this out.
You can have a 72-hour stool collected for quantitating the
amount of fat and this will give an idea about your pancreas.
You can discuss all these with your doctor and take appropriate
measures.
I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply Since writing to you I now feel sick after eating and sometimes i have a dull pain in my stomach area . I only eat very little and i have lost some weight but i think its because Im not eating much I stoped drinking tea and coffee as this made matters worse My stools are still soft sometimes watery To day i went to my GP I am waiting to see a Gastroenterology Dr at the hospital . The Dr wants me to stop my Metformin and Im going to take Linaglipton 5mgs OD Will this help?
He has also given me some anti sickness pills. I am really worried that i may have cancer yet i dont feel ill just very tired of the loose stools and i miss a cup of tea What do you think . Thank you for your time and help is there any thing else i can do ?
Kind Regards XXXXXXX
He has also given me some anti sickness pills. I am really worried that i may have cancer yet i dont feel ill just very tired of the loose stools and i miss a cup of tea What do you think . Thank you for your time and help is there any thing else i can do ?
Kind Regards XXXXXXX
Hello, XXXXXXX,
I am really glad that you will be seeing the gastroenterologist.
If you show him some of my suggestions , I am sure he will
follow through along with his own after he actually examines
you. As for the diabetes medication , if the new drug can control
your blood sugar levels better , that is good.
I wish you the very best.
I am really glad that you will be seeing the gastroenterologist.
If you show him some of my suggestions , I am sure he will
follow through along with his own after he actually examines
you. As for the diabetes medication , if the new drug can control
your blood sugar levels better , that is good.
I wish you the very best.
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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