Gastric Diabetes Information

Diabetics often develop gastric disorders. Nerve damage caused by diabetes can affect many organs, including the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract includes the stomach, small intestine, colon, liver, esophagus, colon, gall bladder, and pancreas. There are many GI problems that are common in people with diabetes.

• Gastric Disorders

Gastroparesis

• When diabetic neuropathy damages the vagus nerve that controls the muscles that empty the stomach of food, a condition called gastroparesis develops. Food digests too slowly and stays in the stomach instead of passing to the small intestine. Fatty and high fiber foods that digest slowly add to symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, stomach spasms, pain and bloating the the abdomen, nausea, loss of appetite, and blood sugar levels that go up and down. Food that stays too long in your stomach can ferment and bacteria can grow. Food may also harden and block the passage into the small intestine.

Small Intestine

• Nerves in the small intestine can also be affected by diabetes. If fluids in the small intestine don't empty as they should, bacteria growth can develop that causes pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Many diabetics also develop an allergy to wheat gluten, which causes inflammation and thinning of the mucus lining the small intestine.

Colon

• Neuropathy that affects nerves to the colon, or large intestine, can lead to constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is common in diabetics. Up to 22 percent of people who have had diabetes for a long time have frequent diarrhea.

Gall Bladder

• Diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes who are obese, tend to have more gallstones. Gallstones can cause severe abdominal pain. Up to 90 percent of gallstones are composed of crystallized cholesterol.

Treatments

• There are many possible treatments for diabetics with gastric problems. These include medication, changes in diet, lifestyle changes, and tight control of blood sugar levels. If these methods don't work, surgery is an option.