Diabetic Gastroparesis

Diabetic gastroparesis is the effect of damage to the vagus nerve, which ensures the motility of food through the gastrointestinal system. A gastroparesis diabetic person digestion will takes too long to empty its contents. Symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis includes heartburn, nausea, vomiting undigested food, and weight loss. In many cases, treatment does not cure the problem -- they are typically a chronic condition.

What Is Diabetic Gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, it is a disorder when the digestive system takes too long to empty its contents. It often happens in people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. Gastroparesis takes place when nerves to the belly has failed or stop functioning. The vagus nerve ensures the movement of food through the digestive tract. If the vagus nerve is damaged, the muscles of the stomach and intestines do not work properly, and the bowel movement of food is slowed down or halted.

Diabetes can damage the vagus nerve if the blood sugar levels continue to be high over a long period of time. High blood sugar causes chemical process in nerves and harms the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.

Diabetic Gastroparesis Symptoms

Symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis include:
# Heartburn
# Nausea
# Vomiting of undigested food
# An early feeling of fullness when eating
# Weight loss
# Abdominal bloating
# Erratic blood glucose levels
# Lack of appetite
# Gastroesophageal reflux
# Spasms of the stomach wall.

Diabetic Gastroparesis Treatment

The main goal of diabetic gastroparesis treatment is to recover control of blood glucose levels. The possible treatments are:

    * Insulin
    * Oral medications
    * Changes in diet and eating times
    * Feeding tubes and intravenous feeding (in severe cases).
      
It is significant to note that in many cases, treatment does not heal diabetic gastroparesis -- it is typically a chronic condition. Treatment aids the gastroparesis diabetic person manage the condition so that he or she can be as healthy and comfortable as possible.

Diabetic Gastroparesis Diet

Modifying your diet habits can aid control diabetic gastroparesis. Your doctor or dietitian will be able to give you a more specific instructions, you can be expected to consume six small meals a day instead of three large ones. If less food gets into the tummy each time you eat, it might not become excessively full. Or the doctor or dietitian may propose that you try several liquid meals a day until your blood glucose levels are stable and the diabetic gastroparesis is adjusted. Liquid meals allow all the nutrients found in solid foods, but can pass by the stomach a lot easily and faster.

The doctor may also recommend that you keep off high-fat and high-fiber foods. Fat by nature will slows down digestion -- a problem you do not want if you have diabetic gastroparesis -- and fiber is hard to get digested. Some high-fiber foods like oranges and broccoli contain material that cannot be digested. Avoid these foods, due to the indigestible part will rest in the stomach overly long and potentially form bezoars.