How to Relieve Constipation Symptoms in Kids with Diabetes

Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal issue for kids with diabetes, affecting more than 30% of those diagnosed (1).

The dietary restrictions and physiology of diabetes can have a big impact on your kid's digestion.

Regular bowel movements can become even more challenging when you add in a typical kid's diet or picky eating habits.

The good news is that lifestyle changes are the first and most effective way to relieve constipation symptoms in kids who have diabetes.

In this post, we’ll cover the root cause of constipation in kids and simple methods to reduce these painful symptoms.

Why Constipation is Common in Diabetes

For kids with diabetes, there are often multiple reasons they could be struggling with constipation. However, identifying the cause is a crucial step in relieving their symptoms. 

• High Blood Sugars.If your kiddo has uncontrolled blood sugar, their kidney might be working overtime to flush out the sugar from their system. This can lead to more frequent peeing and dehydration, which makes stools harder to pass (4).

• Nerve Damage to the Digestive Tract.Chronic high blood sugar can damage the nerves that control how fast food moves through the stomach. This can ultimately slow down digestion and lead to early fullness and constipation (4).

• Low Fiber Intake on a Low Carbohydrate Diet. Because carbohydrates are a key source of fiber, kids with diabetes are often severely deficient in fiber which can result in slow digestion and hard stools.  

• Medications. Common diabetes medications like metformin and insulin have been known to contribute to symptoms of constipation. Also, short-term solutions like laxatives are often used to relieve medication symptoms but can further promote a cycle of constipation and diarrhea.

Relieving Constipation Symptoms with Diabetes

Incorporate Low Glycemic Fiber

Carbohydrates provide fiber but can also spike your kid’s blood sugar. To manage this, it’s important to choose carbs that are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, which measures how much a food increases blood sugar.

Foods that are high in fiber but minimally spike blood sugar include:

• Chia seeds

• Flax seeds

• Apples with skin

• Chickpeas

• Almonds

• Pistachios

• Avocado

• Raspberries

Incorporating these high-fiber foods adds bulk to stool, making it easier to pass through the digestive tract.

Fiber can also reduce the blood sugar spike after meals by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates (2).

If your little one is a picky eater or simply struggles to meet their fiber needs, a fiber supplement can be especially helpful for kids with diabetes.

Growing Up Prebiotics is a tasteless and textureless powder with prebiotic fiber from chicory root, which means it can improve overall gut health while reducing constipation symptoms. 

Increase Water Intake

When kids don’t drink enough water, their body pulls water out of the GI tract, leading to hard stools and constipation. Kids with diabetes need to be extra cautious, as high blood sugar can also contribute to dehydration.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, aim for 4 cups of water for 1-3-year-olds, 5 cups for 4-8-year-olds, and 7-8 cups for kids 9+.

Encourage Movement

Getting your kids moving helps promote digestion and prevent constipation. Studies show that exercises that involve squatting or core movements that engage the pelvic muscles can reduce constipation symptoms by 63% (5).

Plus, exercise can also help keep blood sugar stable by helping your little one’s muscles use the glucose they get from food. 

Aim for 10-15 minutes of full body movement after meals to help prevent constipation and reduce a post-meal blood sugar spike. 

Control Blood Sugar Levels

Many parents don’t realize that blood sugar spikes can contribute to symptoms, like constipation, that seem unrelated to diabetes. However, hyperglycemia can cause slow digestion and dehydration which contribute to hard and infrequent stooling.

Talk with your child’s pediatrician or endocrinologist if your kiddo has consistently high blood sugar or their medication is contributing to constipation.

Summary

Constipation is a common issue for kids with diabetes due to low fiber intake, medications, and the effects of high blood sugar. To relieve symptoms, focus on incorporating high-fiber low-glycemic foods, increasing water intake, encouraging physical activity, and managing blood sugar levels.