How Do You Diagnose Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance?
Intolerance for complex carbohydrates is a malabsorption syndrome that can affect one or more steps required for the intestinal hydrolysis and transportation of carbohydrates. These syndromes are categorized into acquired and congenital types. Acquired syndromes such as lactose intolerance are the most common, and the most likely causes of congenital malabsorption are cystic fibrosis or Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. The following steps will show how to diagnose complex carbohydrate intolerance. Obtain the patient’s complete diet history categorized by the amount of ingested fluids, food and formula. Caregivers should record a detailed record of the patient’s diet for at least one week. Record any gastrointestinal symptoms. These are typical in carbohydrate intolerance; recurring diarrhea is the most common. Other symptoms include abdominal pain ranging from mild to severe and vomiting. Look for systemic problems in the absence of gastrointestinal complaints. These most often affect child
