Predictors of delayed gastric emptying in diabetes

Abstract

Objective — To define the predictors of the rate of gastric emptying in patients with diabetes. Research design and methods — A total of 101 outpatients with diabetes (79 type 1 and 22 type 2) underwent measurements of gastric emptying of a solid/liquid meal (scintigraphy), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (questionnaire), glycemic control (blood glucose concentrations during gastric emptying measurement), and autonomic nerve function (cardiovascular reflexes). Results— The gastric emptying of solid and/or liquid was delayed in 66 (65%) patients. Solid (retention at 100 min 64 6 3.2 vs. 50.2 6 3.6%, P , 0.005) and liquid (retention at 100 min 22.761.7 vs. 16.061.8%, P,0.001) gastric emptying was slower in women than in men. Of all upper gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea and vomiting), only abdominal bloating/ fullness was associated with slower gastric emptying (P , 0.005). A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both abdominal bloating/fullness and female sex were predictors of slower gastric emptying of both solids and liquids. Conclusions — We conclude that the presence of abdominal bloating/fullness but not any other upper gastrointestinal symptom is associated with diabetic gastroparesis and that gastric emptying is slower in diabetic women than in diabetic men.