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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Constipation In An Elderly Person

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Posted on Mon, 1 Aug 2016
Question: My father aged 82 is diabetic for the past 44 years. He has been maintaining good health with strict diet and exercise. Since February 2016 he is suffering from chronic constipation and stomach distention. No amount of laxatives or enemas are helping him with bowels.

Since February 2016 he lost about 15 kgs from 65 to 50 and haemoglobin has gone down to 8.0

Blood sugar levels range from 100 to 250. Some times he is having hypoglycemia.
His creatinine is 2.6 and urea is 62. His blood lipase is 672. WBC count is 7,080, TSH is 4.18
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I am Dr Mittal.
I have read your message.
I think I can help you.
First, the fall in hemoglobin is probably due to kidney disease. You need to talk to your nephrologist for erythropoietin injections.
Second, if his sugars are fluctuating, his insulin dose needs to be readjusted. Also he needs to take a regular diet. Reduction of diet on and off puts a risk of hypoglycemia.
The reports of thyroid and WBC is normal.
Creat and Urea are high due to kidney disease, and in their presence lipase looses its significance.
As for constipation and stomach distension, that is probably due to diabetic gastropathy. There is not much we can do for it. He is already on pregabalin. DAN-9 XXXXXXX may be tried after talking to your regular doctor, in some of my patients, it helped.
Best of luck, Dr Mittal
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Saumya Mittal

Diabetologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2897 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Constipation In An Elderly Person

Brief Answer: suggestions Detailed Answer: Hi I am Dr Mittal. I have read your message. I think I can help you. First, the fall in hemoglobin is probably due to kidney disease. You need to talk to your nephrologist for erythropoietin injections. Second, if his sugars are fluctuating, his insulin dose needs to be readjusted. Also he needs to take a regular diet. Reduction of diet on and off puts a risk of hypoglycemia. The reports of thyroid and WBC is normal. Creat and Urea are high due to kidney disease, and in their presence lipase looses its significance. As for constipation and stomach distension, that is probably due to diabetic gastropathy. There is not much we can do for it. He is already on pregabalin. DAN-9 XXXXXXX may be tried after talking to your regular doctor, in some of my patients, it helped. Best of luck, Dr Mittal