HYPERGLYCEMIA INDUCES ABNORMALITIES OF GASTRIC MYOELECTRICAL ACTIVITYIN PATIENTS WITH TYPE-I DIABETES-MELLITUS

Background/Aims: Blood glucose concentration has been shown to be an i mportant factor in gastric motility. However, the effect of hyperglyce mia on gastric myoelectrical activity has not yet been studied in pati ents with diabetes. Methods: Surface electrogastrography was performed in eight patients with type I diabetes mellitus under normoglycemic a nd hyperglycemic conditions (glucose clamp technique) and in eight nor moglycemic control subjects. Results: In the early postprandial state, the frequency of the normal pacemaker rhythm tended to be higher duri ng hyperglycemia than during normoglycemia (3.10 +/- 0.27 vs. 2.92 +/- 0.19 cycle/min; P = 0.061). The frequency decrease that occurs immedi ately after a meal was found less frequently during hyperglycemia (in 25% vs. 75% of the patients; P = 0.046). Higher harmonics of the 3 cyc le/min component, indicating an electrogastrographic waveform change, were found less often during hyperglycemia (in 13% vs. 63% of the pati ents; P = 0.039). Dysrhythmias (in particular, tachygastriaa) were mor e prevalent during hyperglycemia (40.6% vs. 6.5% of the time; P = 0.02 8). No differences were found between normoglycemic patients and contr ol subjects. Conclusions: This study has shown that hyperglycemia is a n important factor in the generation of gastric myoelectrical disturba nces and tachygastrias in particular.