text: does anyone know if there is any help for diabetic diarrhea?   treatment is ideally directed toward correcting the cause; however, the first aim is to prevent or treat dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. when possible, food intake should be continued even in patients with acute diarrhea. a physician should be consulted as to what type and how much food is permitted. low-fat diets or more easily digestible fat is useful in some patients. the brat diet, which limits food intake to bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, can help to resolve diarrhea. these foods provide soluble and insoluble fiber without irritation. if the toast is slightly burnt, the charcoal can help sequester toxins and pull them from the body. the patient should drink plenty of fluids, however, in severe cases hospitalization to provide intravenous fluids may be necessary. a physician should be notified if the patient is dehydrated, and if oral replacement is suggested then commercial (pedialyte and others) or homemade preparations can be used. the world health organization(who) has provided this easy recipe for home preparation, which can be taken in frequent small sips: • table salt: 3/4 teaspoon • baking powder: 1 teaspoon • orange juice: 1 cup • water: 1 quart or liter supplements nutrient replacement also plays a role in preventing and treating diarrhea. zinc especially appears to have an effect on the immune system, and deficiency of this mineral can lead to chronic diarrhea. also, zinc replacement improves growth in young patients. dietary supplements that are generally beneficial in the treatment of digestive disorders include: • vitamin c: 50-500 mg daily • vitamin b6: 50-150 mg daily • magnesium aspartate: 400 mg daily • vitamin e: 400 iu daily • glutamine: 3,000 mg daily • garlic, deodorized: 2,000 mg daily • deghycirrhizinated licorice: chew as needed