CT Colonography bowel preparation and diet sheet

Stop any iron tablets, but continue to take all other medications and laxatives you usually take.

Eat only low fibre foods, which includes the following:

• Milk (2 cups per day), plain yoghurt, cheese, butter, margarine.
• White fish or chicken (boiled, steamed or grilled).
• Eggs, tofu, white pasta, white rice, white bread.
• Potatoes with no skin (e.g. mashed, boiled).
• Clear soups (no solid bits e.g. sieved chicken noodle), Bovril, Oxo.
• Clear jelly, boiled sweets, ice cream, chocolate (no fruit or nut pieces).
• Salt, pepper, sugar, sweeteners and honey.

Have plenty to drink throughout the day:

• Water, tea, coffee, squash, fizzy drinks, clear fruit juices (e.g. apple/ cranberry).

Do not eat high fibre foods, such as:

• Red meat, pink fish (e.g. salmon) 
• Fruit, vegetables, salad, mushrooms, sweetcorn.
• Cereals, nuts, seeds, pips, bran, beans, lentils.
• Brown bread, brown or wild rice, brown pasta.
• Pickles, chutneys.

Eat a low fibre diet throughout all of today

 At Breakfast:

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list above)
• Drink 20mls of the First bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

Diabetic patients only: Take insulin/ diabetic tablets with your breakfast

 At Lunch:

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list above)
• Drink 20mls of the First bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

 At Dinner:

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list above)
• Drink 20mls of the First bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

Diabetic patients only:

• Check blood sugar four times during the day
• If at any point your blood sugar is below 5, drink clear sugary liquids to avoid a ‘hypo’.

Continue the low fibre diet throughout all of today.

 At Breakfast:

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list in Two days before your test, above)
• Drink 20mls of the First bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

Diabetic patients only:

• Take insulin/ diabetic tablets with your breakfast

 At Lunch: 

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list in Two days before your test, above)
• Drink 20mls of the First bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

 At Dinner:

• Eat only low fibre foods (see list in Two days before your test, above)
• Drink 20mls of the Second bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER

Diabetic patients only:

• Reduce your insulin dose by half, continue your diabetic tablets as normal.

Do not eat any solid food, you may drink water or sugary drinks. You can eat and drink normally as soon as the test is finished.

    At 7am or earlier:

• Drink 40mls of the Second bottle of Gastrografin® using the measuring cup provided
• DO NOT MIX IT WITH WATER
• You will have some Gastrografin® liquid still left in the bottle, please discard this.

Diabetic patients only:

If you have a Morning appointment:

• Continue to drink clear sugary fluids.
• DO NOT take anymore insulin/ diabetes tablets until after the test.
• Check blood sugar if you can before arriving at the hospital.
• Bring insulin/ diabetic tablets and a light meal (e.g. sandwich) with you to the hospital to have after the test.

If you have a Afternoon appointment:

• Continue to drink clear sugary fluids.
• Take half your normal dose of insulin in the morning only.
• Do not take diabetes tablets.
• Check blood sugar if you can in the morning and before arriving at the hospital.
• Bring insulin/ diabetic tablets and a light meal (e.g. sandwich) with you to the hospital to have after the test.