GASTRIC-EMPTYING IN DIABETES

Gastric emptying abnormalities are common in diabetic patients but cor relate poorly with gastrointestinal symptoms. Poor diabetic control is more likely to lead to gastrointestinal complications of diabetes and the converse is also true. Gastric emptying may be a previously under -recognized contributor to variations in glycaemic control in diabetes . There is evidence for both accelerated and delayed gastric emptying. More rapid gastric emptying would result in higher postprandial gluco se levels and, therefore, pharmacological means to delay the rate of g astric emptying may be a new approach to slowing postprandial nutrient absorption and improving diabetic control. Hyperglycaemia reduces the rate of gastric emptying in both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. The exact mechanisms resp onsible for the inhibitory action of hyperglycaemia on gastric emptyin g are unknown. There is insufficient data on the effect of hypoglycaem ia on gastric emptying but one study has reported more rapid gastric e mptying.