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Gastrointestinal Complications Of Type I Diabetes Mellitus

gastrointestinal complications in diabetes symptom in gluten and celiac diseaseWhat Are Gastro-Intestinal Complications Of Type 1 Diabetes?

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]astrointestinal complications of type I diabetes mellitus are functional or organic changes that result from diabetes affecting every organ of the gastrointestinal tract.

Q: How do gastrointestinal tract complications affect diabetes?

A: Impaired function of individual digestive organs in diabetes can significantly influence level of diabetes compensation and vice versa. On the other side, unsatisfactory diabetes compensation can result in manifestation of digestive problems.

The most frequent (55 to 75%) and the most serious clinical complication is diabetic gastroparesis characterized by impaired evacuation and motility of the stomach and small intestine. Gastroparesis results in nausea, vomiting, early fullness after eating and constipation.

Treatment is with prokinetics. These oral medicines help motility and transport of food in the esophagus, stomach and intestines and improve sphincter function to keep food from going backwards.

Gastroesophageal reflux and heartburn are other complications in diabetes. These are treated with antacids and acid reducing medications.

Various autoimmune disease interfere with digestion. One connection between diabetes mellitus and the gastrointestinal tract can be celiac disease.1

What Are Gastro-Intestinal Complications Of Diabetes In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Perusicova J. Gastrointestinal complications in diabetes mellitus. Vnitri Lekarstvi. May 2004;50(5):338-43. [↩]

Gastroparesis – Delayed Gastric Emptying

Reproduction of a lithograph plate showing inside of the stomach from Gray's Anatomy. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons.
Reproduction of a lithograph plate showing inside of the stomach from Gray’s Anatomy. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

What Is Delayed Gastric Emptying?

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elayed gastric emptying is a stomach motility or movement disorder characterized by abnormally slow movement of gastric contents from the stomach through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum, causing dyspepsia.

Q: What determines how fast the stomach empties?

A: How fast the stomach empties depends on the pressure of strong coordinated muscle contractions in the top region of the stomach propelling chyme against resistance at the pylorus (base region of the stomach).

Chyme is food that has been dissolved and thoroughly mixed with stomach secretions.

In the digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat, protein leaves the stomach first (1 hour), then carbohydrates (1 1/2 to 2 hours), and fat takes longest to digest (2-4 hours). Plain water is able to pass through the pylorus within 5 minutes.

What Is Delayed Gastric Emptying In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?