Diet options for high ammonia & a diabetic

Archichik, welcome to the forum!  I'm so sorry that your dad is battling both liver disease and diabetes.  That is a rough combination.  I think he is fortunate to be fairly stable, aside from the encephalopathy.  You are probably right about too much protein.  The only thing I can suggest is a diet free of beef and low in animal protein, in general.  Beans and eggs can be good substitutes.  Beans are carbohydrates, but like pastas they are complex carbohydrates which are broken down more slowly.  I eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies, but I'm not a diabetic.

When your dad next goes to see Dr. Araya, have your mom ask about a good diet for him, or referral to a nutritionist there. 

Also, do continue to persuade your mom to come to this forum.  It could be a great source of support and information to her.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but perhaps someone else here knows more about diabetes and can offer more suggestions.

Hi Archichik, I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I am sorry that your dad is dealing with this disease. My husband has cirrhosis. His main problems have been encephalopathy and edema. Since his lactulose was adjusted to every 6 hours, the encephalopathy has been pretty much under control. He had a bleed from varices in his stomach in November. Since he has been home from the hospital the encephalopathy has pretty much diminished. I know how frustrating it can be, although he was never bad enough to be hospitalized from it. When the episodes would come on I could never narrow down anything different that he was doing to cause it.
I think Connie gave you some good advice about talking to a nutritionalist. The balancing act can be hard enough with cirrhosis. Adding diabetes must make it so much harder. It isn't uncommon for a person that has cirrhosis to develop diabetes. It is actually one of the complications that can be caused by cirrhosis. I'm sure that a nutritionalist will be able to help.

I hope you continue to come back and also encourage your mother to check the forum out. There are alot of wonderful, caring people here that have loads of experience with this disease. They have been a lifesaver to me.

I will be praying for your family.

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Butterflythree

Hello Archichik, Just wanted to add my welcome to the forum. I realize how hard it must be for you and your mom. This liver disease ride can be as wild as any roller coaster ride. Nutrition is a big part of controlling some of the symptoms of it. Connie gave you some good advice. Getting your father to a nutritionist is very important.
It would be great if you can get your mom to visit us, but whether she does or not, you are more than welcome to stay and at least get some support for yourself, from people who have or are living with it. The ability to communicate with people who really understand what's going on with this disease and can relate to you is priceless.........it was a life saver to me personally. And as you can see our forum is filled with very caring and knowledgeable people.

Thoughts and prayers........

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Pink Grandma
Forum moderator-Hepatitis

When the going gets tough....the tough get going! Don't always know where I going but I get there anyways.

Archichik,

I just wanted to welcome you to the forum. It has been a life saver for me.....wonderful caring knowledgable people here. My husband has HepC and cirrhosis. He is currently on a transplant list, though at the bottom of the list. We, too, have battled the encephalopathy and high ammonia level issues. He is on lactulose and when I notice him starting to go into left field a little, I just increase the lactulose, etc. I think you have hit the nail on the head w/ the protein issues. My hubby ate alot of protein over the holidays, and he has had a rough couple of days as well. I think Connie gave you good advise.....talk w/ a nutritionist because the liver disease alone is quite a balance nutritionally but adding the diabetes would be a tough thing to balance.

I wanted to welcome you and encourage you to stick around. If you could get your mother to visit, it would probably be a great outlet for her....there are several caregivers on this forum and we are walking the same shoes as she is.......

Hang in there!

Mer

Archichik,

Thank you all for your warm welcome!

Archichik, thank you for updating us on your dad's condition.  Since his fall, maybe they will put the rails up on his bed so he won't be inclined to go to the bathroom alone.  I hope his back will be okay.  Good to hear that his ammonia has gone down.

I hope your mom will join us, but if not...please keep us posted.

Yesterday morning, there were thoughts he might actually come home today, but his ammonia went back up drastically (from 79 to "between 100 and 130" - the nurse couldn't say), so not sure what that means, or how it was triggered, because he's been on low protein and heavy doses of lactulose in addition to the enema he had the day before.... Not good news.

So sorry to hear that, Archichik.  I hope that they can get the ammonia down so he can go home.

Keep us informed.

Archichik, I'm sorry your dad is having such problems with his ammonia levels. I will continue to pray for you both.

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Butterflythree