Managing your diabetes and hydration will be much more important than following any diet recommendations you’ll find here. You can, if it helps, use unsweetened (or artificially sweetened) psyllium to manage stool consistency, and Imodium or Lomotil as necessary to manage how fast things move. Trying to do these things with diet often works poorly, anyway, though it’s an appealing idea.

Thanks, Scott.....not worried about hydration as long as sugar free Gatorade behaves itself.....lol....if not, than I might have to worry.....Just had a thought about talking to the surgeon, GI, and Dietitian for some ideas ....

Hi, Asa.

I am also a diabetic. I worried about food and pouch. But I managed to have my lowest glucose readings when I was recovering from surgery 1 and 2.  I ate simple carbs to help thicken output. Pasta, rice, and yes, even dense, high glycemic bagels and white toast with protein peanut butter, almond butter, eggs. I drank a Mason jar of broth every day to boost hydration.

The key is portion control, and you already are expert at this as a diabetic! I had one slice of bread or half a bagel with almond butter; one cup rice, pasta, etc., etc., just like the recommendations for diabetics. You can carefully choose simple carbs and soluble fiber for now. I don't know if it was because I was so thin, with very low body fat after my surgery, but my blood sugar was 6 for many months, which is excellent. (Now, not so much!). I ate pasta and rice but always, always together with a protein (fish, chicken, tofu, beef, egg) to slow down the sugar spike. No insoluble fiber during recovery, even though fiber is key to managing diabetes. You won't be able to stand the fiber after your surgery. It will cause your pouch to cramp and roil and be very angry. Explosively angry. I thought that I was fine at the two week point so I ate buckwheat salad with shredded carrots. I thought I was going to pass out from cramps and pain. It's important that your new pouch settle in and learn how to hold and when to release. And you can do this, and manage your diabetes, through portioning and choosing the right kind of carbs at this stage; you can always return to complex carbs when your pouch matures.

Hi Asa,

I did not have any issues with my sugar until after my surgeries.  I am now prediabetic and went for a consult at the Nutrition  Clinic with a referral from Dr. Reddy’s office.  The person I worked with was Ellen/don’t remember her last name.  She works with patients with diabetes and J-pouches,  unfortunately my insurance did not cover my visit.  You would have to check that out.  Also, good luck with your surgery,  I do remember Dr. Reddy had me cut my gaterade so it was half water.  Broth is a great idea, also.  Take care.