Diabetes and Lactose Intolerance: Is It Really the Dairy?

Many people with diabetes have stomach problems such as bloating, gas, cramping, nausea, or diarrhea.

Their first thought is often,

“It must be my diabetes.”

Sometimes diabetes can affect digestion, but diabetes is not always the reason.

Sometimes the problem may be:

• Lactose intolerance

• Medication side effects

• Another medical condition

Lactose intolerance happens when your body does not make enough of the enzyme needed to break down lactose, which is the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.

When this happens, you may have:

• Bloating

• Gas

• Cramping

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

These symptoms often happen within 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating dairy.

For some people with diabetes, dairy may not be the real problem.

Some diabetes medications, especially metformin, can cause symptoms that look very similar to lactose intolerance. (Please do not stop or change any of your medications unless you talk to your doctor first).

These may include:

• Loose stools

• Gas

• Bloating

• Stomach discomfort

• Nausea

Other medical conditions can also affect digestion, such as:

• Gastroparesis

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Food sensitivities

• Intestinal infections

This is why it is important not to assume every stomach problem is caused by diabetes.

Ask yourself:

• Does this happen after dairy?

• Does this happen after taking medication?

• Does this happen after certain meals?

• Has this gotten worse over time?

The good news is that lactose intolerance does not always mean you have to stop all dairy.

When trying to figure out which foods your body can tolerate, go slowly.

Try this step by step:

1. Add only one new food at a time.

2. Eat a small amount first.

3. Wait several days before adding another new food.

4. Watch for symptoms like gas, bloating, cramping, nausea, or diarrhea.

5. Write down what you ate and how you felt.

6. If symptoms happen, it will be easier to know which food may be causing the problem.

Many people can still tolerate:

• Hard cheeses

• Greek yogurt

• Lactose-free milk

• Unsweetened almond milk

• Unsweetened coconut milk

The most important thing is to listen to your body.

One thing I have learned after many years of nursing is this: diabetes is NOT one size fits all.

Two people can have the same diagnosis and still have very different symptoms, challenges, and solutions.

Pay attention to your body. Ask questions. Learn what works best for you.

Small steps often lead to big answers.

“The wise listen to advice and become wiser.” Proverbs 12:15