Diabetic Gastroparesis
Diabetic gastroparesis is another complication of poorly managed diabetes. This issue may occur in patients with either type I or type II diabetes, and diabetes is the most common cause of this complication, although there may be other reasons behind it, as well. Just like diabetes, this complication is a long-standing disease that will need to be managed over time. Read on for more information about what diabetic gastroparesis is, what symptoms to look for, and possible treatment options your doctor may prescribe:
What is it?
Because of delayed stomach muscle movement, diabetic gastroparesis is an issue where the stomach empties food into the small intestine very slowly, or not at all. Normally, this will occur after an injury or illness that helps to weaken or damage the vagus nerve, and stomach muscles weaken and do not work properly. High blood glucose levels may, over time, help to bring about such damage to the vagus nerve. This delayed gastric emptying may result in the stop of food being properly digested, which could result in erratic blood glucose readings, making diabetes even harder to manage.
Who May Be at Risk?
Women may be at a higher risk than men for diabetic gastroparesis, though the reason is not known. People with not only diabetes, but also those patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, scleroderma, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or because of a mitochondrial disorder may also be at risk for diabetic gastroparesis. Smoking may also contribute to the risk for this disease. Or, apart from diabetes or other health issues all together, those who have undergone some sort of abdominal surgery which has damaged the vagus nerve may also be at risk.
Symptoms
No matter your gender or condition, if you begin to experience symptoms of the issue, you should contact your doctor or medical professional, immediately. If you think you may be at risk for this disease, be on the lookout for nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, especially vomiting undigested food, heartburn or acid reflux form the backup of stomach contents that is unable to move to the small intestine, erratic changes of blood sugar that is hard to predict or manage, loss of appetite and weight, feeling full very quickly after you begin meals, and even abdominal bloating and pain. Some patients may also experience palpitations of the heart of spasms of the stomach wall as symptoms.
Treatment
If you think you have diabetic gastroparesis, contact your doctor or medical professional immediately. Most likely, they will tell you to take your medication on the correct schedule, correctly manage your blood glucose levels, and to watch your diet to help to manage this issue, as there is no cure for it at this time. They may, in some cases, prescribe drugs to help treat the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, to help control other symptoms of this disease, digest food faster, or stimulate stomach muscle movement. In extreme cases, a feeding tube that reaches beyond the stomach may have to be inserted.