Dehydration or Nutrition Issues?

[CharlesBronson]

Hello Everyone

Just started my fourth year gluten free after a very late celiac diagnosis.

I'm noticing that I either get dehydrated very easily or I have trouble absorbing nutrients. I'll explain... I was always a huge water drinker, many litres a day. But ever since going gluten free and trying to heal, the more water I drink, the more it flushes out my system, making me feel week, tired, dizzy, confused, nauseous etc.

I've been noticing that if my urine is clear, I am more sick than when my urine has some color to it. Also, when my urine is clear from drinking a lot of water, any physical exertion causes serious muscle pain.

I feel like whatever I eat is not being absorbed and is too easily flushed out of my system by water/fluid.

Has anyone gone through this? Outside of drinking less water, and adding some sea salt and sugar to the water I drink, I'm not sure what to do. Any advice would be great.

[RMJ]

It sounds like you’re not dehydrated but over-hydrated. Too much water can lead to the symptoms you list. Urine should not be colorless.  If drinking less water makes you feel better, why not just drink less water?

Too much water intake

[CharlesBronson]

3 hours ago, RMJ said:

It sounds like you’re not dehydrated but over-hydrated. Too much water can lead to the symptoms you list. Urine should not be colorless.  If drinking less water makes you feel better, why not just drink less water?

Too much water intake

Thanks for replying! Yes I have been drinking less and less water. Sorry if I didn't make the clear. I'm down to maybe 2-3 cups a day and I'm still peeing so much that my urine is clear. I've tried adding a gatorade but I just pee that right out too...

[knitty kitty]

@CharlesBronson,

Have you been tested for Diabetes?  Diabetes is another of those autoimmune diseases that can occur with Celiac Disease.

Frequent urination is one symptom of diabetes, so is excessive thirst.  The body tries to flush out excess glucose through the kidneys when there's not enough insulin for glucose to get into the cells.  Unfortunately, this flushes out body fluids that are needed.  

Here's some articles so you can decide if your symptoms are similar.  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248

And....

https://www.healthline.com/health/frequent-urination-diabetes

Hope this helps.

[RMJ]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

@CharlesBronson,

Have you been tested for Diabetes?  Diabetes is another of those autoimmune diseases that can occur with Celiac Disease.

Frequent urination is one symptom of diabetes, so is excessive thirst.  The body tries to flush out excess glucose through the kidneys when there's not enough insulin for glucose to get into the cells.  Unfortunately, this flushes out body fluids that are needed.  

Here's some articles so you can decide if your symptoms are similar.  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248

And....

https://www.healthline.com/health/frequent-urination-diabetes

Hope this helps.

Excellent idea, knitty kitty.

[CharlesBronson]

2 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

@CharlesBronson,

Have you been tested for Diabetes?  Diabetes is another of those autoimmune diseases that can occur with Celiac Disease.

Frequent urination is one symptom of diabetes, so is excessive thirst.  The body tries to flush out excess glucose through the kidneys when there's not enough insulin for glucose to get into the cells.  Unfortunately, this flushes out body fluids that are needed.  

Here's some articles so you can decide if your symptoms are similar.  

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-symptoms/art-20044248

And....

https://www.healthline.com/health/frequent-urination-diabetes

Hope this helps.

Yes tested many times and just did a finger prick test and my blood sugar is normal...

[knitty kitty]

Would you share the number?  And when was the last time you ate?

You know cats and curiosity....

I have Type Two Diabetes.

[RMJ]

11 minutes ago, CharlesBronson said:

Yes tested many times and just did a finger prick test and my blood sugar is normal...

That test is for diabetes mellitus, what about diabetes insipidus?

Diabetes insipidus

[CharlesBronson]

1 hour ago, knitty kitty said:

Would you share the number?  And when was the last time you ate?

You know cats and curiosity....

I have Type Two Diabetes.

Yeah sure. It was 6.5 mmols 3 hours after a meal.

[knitty kitty]

19 minutes ago, CharlesBronson said:

Yeah sure. It was 6.5 mmols 3 hours after a meal.

I had to do some calculations because my meter is in mg/dl.  

I found these articles....

Diabetes....

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199

And...

Prediabetes....

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355284

 

Perhaps you should keep track of your readings for several days, before meals, and two hours after meals.  

I had to adjust my diet (smaller carb portions) so my blood sugar level would return to fasting level within two hours.  By adjusting my diet, I'm able to stay off of medication.  

2 hours ago, RMJ said:

That test is for diabetes mellitus, what about diabetes insipidus?

Diabetes insipidus

Wow!  That sounds very unpleasant! 

[CharlesBronson]

40 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

I had to do some calculations because my meter is in mg/dl.  

I found these articles....

Diabetes....

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199

And...

Prediabetes....

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prediabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355284

 

Perhaps you should keep track of your readings for several days, before meals, and two hours after meals.  

I had to adjust my diet (smaller carb portions) so my blood sugar level would return to fasting level within two hours.  By adjusting my diet, I'm able to stay off of medication.  

Wow!  That sounds very unpleasant! 

Thank you so much for the info Kitty! I really appreciate it. I will keep track of my readings for a few days.

I've been tested for diabetes before but maybe it's time to get checked again?

Chronic poor health is exhausting

[knitty kitty]

5 minutes ago, CharlesBronson said:

Thank you so much for the info Kitty! I really appreciate it. I will keep track of my readings for a few days.

I've been tested for diabetes before but maybe it's time to get checked again?

Chronic poor health is exhausting

Yes, it could be time to make some preventative measures.  

Be encouraged.  You'll get the hang of it! 

Keep us posted on your progress! 

 

 

[CharlesBronson]

5 minutes ago, knitty kitty said:

Yes, it could be time to make some preventative measures.  

Be encouraged.  You'll get the hang of it! 

Keep us posted on your progress! 

 

 

Thank you. I will

[CharlesBronson]

Hi Kitty,

I think my numbers are a bit high. Some sites say I'm on the high end of normal and some sites say I'm normal.

Jan 23rd Pre-Supper = 5.5 mmol / Jan 2rd 2Hrs After Supper = 7.1 mmol

Jan 24th Morning After Fast = 5.7 mmol / Jan 24th 2Hrs After Breakfast = 9.2 mmol / Jan 24th Pre-Supper = 5.6 mmol

Did you experience blood sugar issues after healing from Celiac?

[CharlesBronson]

But... the 9.2 mmol one is high and a bit worrisome...

[knitty kitty]

@CharlesBronson,

You need to check the amount of carbohydrates you ate at each of those meals where your glucose levels stayed elevated beyond two hours.  Adjusting the amount of carbohydrates at meals may help you keep your glucose levels down.  And watch out for sugary drinks between meals.  I kept a food/mood/poo'd journal to track my carbohydrates and after meal glucose levels.   

I found that the AutoImmune Protocol Diet (AIP diet) helped.  No carbohydrates like gluten free grains, starchy vegetables (potatoes), and legumes.  Just meat and veg.  

I experienced blood sugar problems before my Celiac diagnosis.  I was put on Metformin to help my body use insulin better and thus lower blood glucose.  Unfortunately, Metformin uses the same transporters as thiamine, blocking thiamine from entering cells and causing thiamine deficiency.  I was prescribed more medications to "treat" the symptoms of thiamine deficiency (high blood pressure, fluid retention, anxiety and panic attacks, and paresthesia). 

The pancreas is one organ with the highest concentration of thiamine (vitamin B1).  The pancreas needs lots of thiamine to make and excrete insulin.  

Diabetics, both types, have been found to be consistently low in Thiamine (75% less than nondiabetics!).  More thiamine is cleared by the kidneys in diabetics than nondiabetics.   

Seems silly to give a medication that makes you worse....

Read more here....

"Evidence for altered thiamine metabolism in diabetes: Is there a potential to oppose gluco- and lipotoxicity by rational supplementation?"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4058733/

Anyway, I quit taking Metformin and other medications, and began the AIP diet.  I also began supplementing thiamine (benfotiamine).  After a few weeks, I was able to incorporate small amounts of rice and starchy vegetables in my meals.  I still monitor my blood glucose levels after eating carbohydrates, but I am feeling much better eating this way and being medication free. 

 I think you are wise in recognizing that the high post prandial glucose readings are worth correcting now.  A few simple diet changes now can save problems down the road.  Do discuss with your doctor the benefits of supplementing with thiamine and a B Complex (all eight B vitamins need each other to function properly) and Vitamin D.  Vitamin D helps increase insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.  

Vitamin D deficiency and diabetes

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28341729/

I hope this helps! 

 

 

 

[CharlesBronson]

9 hours ago, knitty kitty said:

@CharlesBronson,

You need to check the amount of carbohydrates you ate at each of those meals where your glucose levels stayed elevated beyond two hours.  Adjusting the amount of carbohydrates at meals may help you keep your glucose levels down.  And watch out for sugary drinks between meals.  I kept a food/mood/poo'd journal to track my carbohydrates and after meal glucose levels.   

I found that the AutoImmune Protocol Diet (AIP diet) helped.  No carbohydrates like gluten free grains, starchy vegetables (potatoes), and legumes.  Just meat and veg.  

I experienced blood sugar problems before my Celiac diagnosis.  I was put on Metformin to help my body use insulin better and thus lower blood glucose.  Unfortunately, Metformin uses the same transporters as thiamine, blocking thiamine from entering cells and causing thiamine deficiency.  I was prescribed more medications to "treat" the symptoms of thiamine deficiency (high blood pressure, fluid retention, anxiety and panic attacks, and paresthesia). 

The pancreas is one organ with the highest concentration of thiamine (vitamin B1).  The pancreas needs lots of thiamine to make and excrete insulin.  

Diabetics, both types, have been found to be consistently low in Thiamine (75% less than nondiabetics!).  More thiamine is cleared by the kidneys in diabetics than nondiabetics.   

Seems silly to give a medication that makes you worse....

Read more here....

"Evidence for altered thiamine metabolism in diabetes: Is there a potential to oppose gluco- and lipotoxicity by rational supplementation?"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4058733/

Anyway, I quit taking Metformin and other medications, and began the AIP diet.  I also began supplementing thiamine (benfotiamine).  After a few weeks, I was able to incorporate small amounts of rice and starchy vegetables in my meals.  I still monitor my blood glucose levels after eating carbohydrates, but I am feeling much better eating this way and being medication free. 

 I think you are wise in recognizing that the high post prandial glucose readings are worth correcting now.  A few simple diet changes now can save problems down the road.  Do discuss with your doctor the benefits of supplementing with thiamine and a B Complex (all eight B vitamins need each other to function properly) and Vitamin D.  Vitamin D helps increase insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation.  

Vitamin D deficiency and diabetes

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28341729/

I hope this helps! 

 

 

 

You are an absolute treasure Kitty! Again, thank you so much for all the wisdom and guidance.

I'm over three years into my celiac journey and I just feel terrible, so I knew something had to be wrong despite my bloodwork being OK. So I bought a home glucose monitor and sure enough it seems my blood sugar is spiking quite high which is probably leading to crashes and other issues.

I have a food journal and I'll keep cutting my carbs until I see my blood stabilize. I'll be focusing on meat and non-startchy veg.

Fingers crossed!

[Pcparkman]

On 1/21/2022 at 4:52 PM, CharlesBronson said:

Hello Everyone

Just started my fourth year gluten free after a very late celiac diagnosis.

I'm noticing that I either get dehydrated very easily or I have trouble absorbing nutrients. I'll explain... I was always a huge water drinker, many litres a day. But ever since going gluten free and trying to heal, the more water I drink, the more it flushes out my system, making me feel week, tired, dizzy, confused, nauseous etc.

I've been noticing that if my urine is clear, I am more sick than when my urine has some color to it. Also, when my urine is clear from drinking a lot of water, any physical exertion causes serious muscle pain.

I feel like whatever I eat is not being absorbed and is too easily flushed out of my system by water/fluid.

Has anyone gone through this? Outside of drinking less water, and adding some sea salt and sugar to the water I drink, I'm not sure what to do. Any advice would be great.

Have you tried tea? I have the same problems. Water doesn't do anything for me. Make sure to eat nutrient dense foods. Coconuts, olives, avocado, cruciferous vegetables, pumpkin, chia and flax seeds. But since I'm new to these I'm not sure what you or I can eat on this list.