Dumping syndrome, also called rapid gastric emptying, occurs when undigested stomach contents are rapidly moved into the small intestine after meals. Dumping syndrome is more common in people with recent stomach surgeries such as gastric bypass, fundoplication, vagotomy and gastrectomy, according to MayoClinic.com. Patients with dumping syndrome need to delay the digestion of carbohydrates. A diabetes diet also focuses on delaying the digestion of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates
Doctors advise patients with dumping syndrome to avoid foods that contain simple carbohydrates such as table sugar, corn syrup, honey, candy, cookies, sweetened breads, sweetened drinks, pastries, cakes, glucose, fructose and sucrose, according to MayoClinic.com. If you are following a diabetes diet, you should also keep simple carbohydrates to a minimum as they are quickly converted to energy and spike your blood sugar. Patients with dumping syndrome and diabetics should focus on complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat breads and cereals.
Low-Fat Protein Foods
Patients with dumping syndrome should consume low-fat protein foods. If you are diabetic, you should consume low-fat proteins with carbohydrates to help slow digestion and control blood sugar. Low-fat protein is essential for patients with dumping syndrome because fat in foods can exacerbate symptoms. Some patients may also experience symptoms after consuming dairy products.
Fiber
Fiber is important in controlling the symptoms of dumping syndrome. Fiber also helps delay the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, and as such, fiber is essential to a diabetes diet. High-fiber foods include fruits, vegetables and oatmeal. While a diabetic diet should be rich in non-starchy vegetables, tomatoes and citrus fruits may be difficult to digest if you have dumping syndrome. Fiber supplements containing psyllium and guar gum are recommended for patients with dumping syndrome.
Symptoms of Rapid Gastric Dumping Syndrome
Patients with dumping syndrome experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, bloating, belching, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, rapid heart rate, fatigue, low blood sugar, mental confusion, according to MayoClinic.com. Most patients with dumping syndrome experience symptoms soon after eating. Symptoms may also occur 1 to 3 hours after eating. Patients with severe dumping syndrome experience severe weight loss and malnutrition.
