Proximal gastric compliance and perception of distension in type 1 diabetes mellitus: Effects of hyperglycemia

OBJECTIVES: Upper GI symptoms and disordered gastric motor function occur f requently in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and may be influenced b y the blood glucose concentration. The aims of this study were to evaluate proximal gastric compliance and perception of gastric distension during eug lycemia and hyperglycemia in unselected patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Ten randomly selected patients with type 1 diabetes were studied. On a single day, isovolumetric and isobaric distensions of the proximal sto mach were performed during both euglycemia (blood glucose, 6 mmol/L) and hy perglycemia (15 mmol/L), in randomized order. Sensations of fullness, nause a, and bloating were scored using visual analog scales during each step. Re sults were compared with those obtained in 10 healthy subjects studied duri ng euglycemia. RESULTS: During euglycemia, perceptions of fullness (p < 0.01), nausea (p < 0.01), and bloating (p < 0.05) were greater during gastric distension in p atients with diabetes when compared with healthy controls. In the patients, hyperglycemia increased gastric compliance (p < 0.05) when compared to eug lycemia. CONCLUSIONS: In unselected patients with type 1 diabetes I) the perception of gastric distension during euglycemia is increased compared with healthy controls, and 2) hyperglycemia increases proximal gastric compliance. (C) 2 000 by Am. Coil. of Gastroenterology.