Diabetic Nerve Disease Affecting Stomach

Overview

Diabetic nerve disease can affect any type of nerve in the body including the nerves in the stomach which is known as diabetic gastroparesis. It occurs when the autonomic nerves that controls the stomach are damaged. In this condition, the muscles of the stomach does not contract properly and the digestion slows down. Hence, gastric emptying is delayed causing the food to remain in the stomach for a longer period of time. Diabetic nerve disease affecting stomach leads to signs and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, early fullness, nocturnal diarrhoea alternating with constipation. This condition can be diagnosed through thorough history taking, abdominal examination, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, barium X-ray, gastric emptying study, gastric manometry and ultrasound. Treatment of this condition is inadequate till date but it can be started with control of diabetes mellitus with appropriate anti-diabetic medications prescribed by trained medical doctors, dietary changes by eating low fat and fibre food, smaller and more frequent meals to make digestion easier. Metoclopromide is previously used but restricted and not recommended for long term use. Gastric electrical stimulatory device is one of the alternative available but it is not approved.