Predictors of delayed gastric emptying in diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To define the predictors of the rate of gastric emptying in patients with diabetes.


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 +/- 3.2 vs. 50.2 +/- 3.6%, P < 0.005) and liquid (retention at 100 min 22.7 +/- 1.7 vs. 16.0 +/- 1.8%, 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.
Jones
K L
KL
Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia. karen.jones@adelaide.edu.au
Russo
A
A
Stevens
J E
JE
Wishart
J M
JM
Berry
M K
MK
Horowitz
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002417:Cattle; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013599:Systole
D001786:Blood Glucose