“A day without Metamucil is like a day without sunshine,” writes one customer on Amazon.
Can a spoonful of an orange powder really provide relief for one of the most common yet often overlooked complications related to diabetes — CONSTIPATION?
I’ve Got Diabetes, But Why Am I Constipated?
Healthline reports a whopping 60% of people with long-standing diabetes deal with constipation.
High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage in the digestive tract which can cause constipation, diarrhea, and incontinence.
While constipation can be a sign of poor long-term diabetes management, it could also be due to something as simple as not getting enough fiber. And consuming ample amounts of fiber each day can also lower your blood sugar levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Constipation can be defined as having fewer than three regular bowel movements each week. It can also be defined as infrequent, unpleasant, and painful bowel movements. The kind that makes people make agonizing low guttural noises in the bathroom similar to those of a moose caught in a bear trap.
If eating more fiber, drinking more water, and increasing your physical activity doesn’t help then talk with your doctor about moving on to fiber supplements, stool softeners, or laxatives.
One supplement that’s pretty much everywhere is Metamucil Sugar-Free.
Metamucil Psyllium Fiber Supplement Sugar-Free Powder – Orange Smooth
How Does It Work? Metamucil works by increasing the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative that can also help treat lower cholesterol.
Metamucil can play a role in helping certain people with diabetes get enough fiber, especially if they are constipated. But read the label carefully. This product replaces sugar with Aspartame.
Some people with diabetes have found that the aspartame-sweetened (Nutrasweet) Metamucil spikes blood sugar, in spite of the lack of sugar in it, which could be from the maltodextrin (an additive that makes the product nice and smooth).
Dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take this drug more often than directed.
WebMD warns that this product may decrease the absorption of other medications you may be taking. Take this product at least 2 hours from your other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
It may take 1 to 3 days before this medication starts working. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not take this medication for more than 7 days unless directed by your doctor.
Others humorously warn of potential side effects, “You should be aware that there may be an odorous side-effect, that for me, usually presents itself during church, so when those around you look in your direction, just discretely, point, with your thumb, to sweet old Sister Thompson sitting near you!,” writes Mike on Amazon.
“Metamucil is made from [a fiber called] psyllium husk, which slows down the absorption of glucose and can cause less of a spike in blood sugar,” says Audrey Koltun, RDN, a registered dietitian in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Lake Success, New York for Livestrong. But “this does not mean someone with diabetes who eats a high-carbohydrate/high-sugar diet can expect normal blood sugars after taking Metamucil.”
Dana Greene, RD, a dietitian in Brookline, Massachusetts, says she suggests fiber supplements like Metamucil to patients with diabetes when they can’t get what they need through diet, describing supplements as “a good backup plan.”
“ The taste of this product is great. I take it as a quick drink 2x a day and in conjunction with adding more fiber to my diet got me to go a little more frequently. It’s no miracle, but I definitely needed more fiber for my cholesterol and I take many medications which stop me up incredibly,” writes Angela in a product review.
Keep in mind when you increase your fiber intake too quickly with supplements you may experience bouts of painful gas, bloating, diarrhea, and/or constipation.
Don’t forget to talk to your Doctor, Registered Dietitian (RD), and/or Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) before adding supplements to your diabetes self-care plan.
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