I have been diagnosed as Fructose Intolerant

[Jea]

I am confused about some of my findings.  

1)  Is table sugar ok?  Some things I read say no table sugar but say cane sugar is okay.  

(2) If an ingredient says "sugar" is it okay to eat?  

(3) Do I only need to be concerned with fructose, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup?   - what about sucrose and sorbitol?

(4)  I keep reading about "liver damage" if a person keeps eating fructose foods, but other sites say, no health damage, just uncomfortable and a hassle.  Which is right?

(5) My main problem is diarrea 2-3 times a day for 8 months or so now.  I have also noticed a very loud gurggling sound in my stomach during the day, is this consistent with my condition?

(6)  Because of no fruits, no tomatoes and very few vegetables, couldn't my health be in trouble.  Which is better, no fruits - ever or diarrhea?   Should I be taking some "fruit pills" (dietary supplement)or would they have the fructose in them?

(7)  All I had was a fructose intolerant test done.  Should there be any other tests done to make sure this is my ONLY problem?

(8)  I am 57 years old.  Why would I get this all of a sudden in my life?  

Thanks.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) In general, all sucrose and fructose should be avoided.  Glucose, dextrine, and maltose sweeteners are ok.  I am not sure what kind of sweeteners are in cane sugars.  

2) If an ingredient says "sugar" - it is most likely not ok to eat in a strict diet.  For more information on what not to eat, see here:
http://www.bu.edu/aldolase/HFI/treatment/diet2.html

3) Sucrose and sorbitol should also be avoided.

4) Long term exposure to fructose can lead to liver dysfunction.

5) Diarrhea and stomach gurgling is consistent with carbohydrate malabsorption.  Fructose intolerance is a form of this.

6) No fruit should be allowed in a fructose/sucrose-free diet.  

7) You can consider a D-xylose or lactose intolerance test to determine if you cannot absorb other forms of carbohydrates.

8) It is unclear why it was suddenly developed.  Typically this is a rare, recessive disease that is apparent in newborns.  I do not have a good explaination why it is appearing at your age.

More information on the disease can be found here:
http://www.bu.edu/aldolase/HFI/

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[PAJ]

Sugar intolerance is precursor to diabetes: anything that ends with ose is sugar as lactose glucose etc: restrict your diet to low carbohydrate ,low fats
Although omega 3 fish oil is beneficial as a supplement.
High blood sugars cause all sorts of damage .You  should check your blood sugar level ,although I imagine this will have already been done.
The interesting symptom for me is you gut problems , as a diabetic I trace my illness back to a yeast infection , yeast produce mycotoxins, Alloxan is one it  destroys beta cells of the pancreas  over time and contributes to blood sugar problems, through insulin disturbances. In this way, over time, the destruction of beta cells could lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.    Fungal problems in diabetics are well known. A duel condition where  Diabetes is caused by an autoimmune condition that destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin!
Candida has the ability to provoke an auto immune response; sugar craving is a major symptom Candida is implicated in other autoimmune conditions including arthritis and psoriasis  it's as far as the medical profession is concerned  undetectable. At the present time so many people are developing diabetes the situation being called a "diabetic epidemic

[yoshi]

I THINK YOU SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR AND ASK ALL THESE QUESTIONS.
TABLE SUGAR IS CANE SUGAR.