Diabetes & The Body

Gastroparesis - a diabetic cant stomach it

Gastroparesis relates to a type of nerve damage that affects the stomach. Also known as delayed gastric emptying, it is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long a time to empty its contents. The vagus nerve is responsible for and controls the movement of food through the digestive tract. A damage to this nerve results in the improper functioning of the muscles of the stomach and intestines, as a result of which movement of food is slowed or stopped. Diabetes can damage the vagus nerve if blood glucose levels remain high over a long period of time, a reason why this disorder is usually seen in people with diabetes.

Symptoms of gastroparesis include:

• Feeling of fullness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Enlargement of stomach
• Abdominal discomfort
• Loss of appetite

As these symptoms are present even in other digestive problems such as acidity, ulcer and gastritis, it is important to confirm a diagnosis of gastroparesis before any treatment is initiated. Further, a possibility of gastric cancer needs to be ruled out. In this context, a gastroenterologist or a diabetologist is equipped to conduct tests, which can verify the presence of gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is diagnosed with the help of tests like:

• Barium test
• Barium beefsteak meal
• Radioisotope gastric-emptying scan
• Gastric manometry
• Blood tests

To rule out causes of gastroparesis other than diabetes, the doctor may do an upper endoscopy or an ultrasound.

Treating gastroparesis

Control of blood glucose levels is known to improve gastric function, therefore the first step towards treating gastroparesis needs to be aimed towards achieving normal level of blood glucose. As the nerves of the stomach are impaired in this condition, treatment mainly focuses on the food regimen apart from medicines and surgical intervention. Simple steps to be followed in the food regimen include:

1. Eating several, small meals spaced throughout the day
2. Intake of foods that is low in fat
3. Fibrous fruits and vegetables are difficult to be digested and so must be avoided as they may result in formation of dense masses inside the intestine
4. Taking a walk or engaging in some moderate activity, for about half an hour to an hour, after eating.

Complications

Food that stays in the stomach for a too long period can result in fermentation of the food apart from growth of bacteria that is out of proportion. It can further result in the formation of solid masses called bezoars that can cause nausea, vomiting, and obstruction in the stomach. Control of blood glucose can also be problematic if food is retained for a longer time in the stomach.