Managing your blood sugar, fluid balance and weight while maintaining muscle and bone mass are nutritional priorities with Cushing's syndrome, an endocrine disorder characterized by prolonged high levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that plays roles in regulating your blood pressure, heart function, metabolism, blood sugar and immune response. High cortisol levels may cause high blood sugar, weight gain, elevated cholesterol levels, hypertension, muscle wasting and bone loss.
Blood Sugar Control
Along with taking insulin or oral medication, you can help control your blood sugar by following a balanced eating plan recommended for people with diabetes. Your doctor can help you establish a daily allowance of carbohydrates that meets your energy requirements. Low-fat, low-calorie foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates with no added sugar will help you manage your blood sugar, sustain your energy levels and reduce the fatigue associated with Cushing's. Whole-grain breads and cereals, vegetables, fruits and dried beans offer energy without high amounts of calories or fat. Limit your intake of breads, desserts and snack foods made with refined flour and sugar.
Blood Pressure Regulation
Limiting sodium in your diet may help you avoid fluid retention and high blood pressure. A reduced-sodium diet like the DASH eating plan -- Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension -- may help you control your blood pressure by restricting processed foods that are high in sodium. This program encourages you to eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nonfat dairy products and other foods that are naturally high in potassium, magnesium or calcium, essential minerals that help you control your blood pressure. Diet proponents recommend that you not add table salt to your food. Restricting alcohol and caffeine may also help you regulate your blood pressure.
Weight and Cholesterol Management
The hormonal imbalances of Cushing's may make it difficult to avoid weight gain completely, but you may be able to minimize weight gain and control your cholesterol by eating a well-balanced diet. Avoid fatty meats, foods with added sugar, full-fat dairy products and foods that are high in saturated or trans fats. Plan your meals around lean sources of protein, unprocessed carbohydrates and nonfat dairy products. High-fiber foods, such as vegetables, fruits and grains, may help you control your weight by filling you up with low-calorie volume.
Muscle Wasting and Bone Loss
Cushing's syndrome promotes weight gain around your abdomen and upper back, but you may lose lean tissue mass, especially in your arms and legs. Cushing's can also contribute to bone loss, which puts you at risk for osteoporosis. Maintain your intake of protein by eating skinless chicken or turkey, fish, dried beans, tofu, egg whites, nonfat milk and yogurt. Meeting your daily requirements of calcium and vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium, may improve your bone health. You can fulfill the recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, for calcium of 1,000 mg per day for men and women ages 19 through 50 by eating nonfat dairy products, dark green vegetables, tofu and canned fish with softened bones. The RDA of vitamin D is 600 IU, or international units, each day for men and women ages 19 through 50. Your skin produces a certain amount of vitamin D in sunlight. Vitamin D also occurs in fortified milk and cereal, eggs, liver and fatty fish.
References
- National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service: Cushing's Syndrome
- National Institutes of Health: Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center: Nutrition for Patients with Cushing Syndrome
- Mayo Clinic: DASH Diet: Healthy Eating to Lower Your Blood Pressure
- Institute of Medicine: DRIs for Calcium and Vitamin D
- Mayo Clinic: Cushing's Syndrome: Complications
