Gastrointestinal symptoms in type 1 diabetic patients, as compared to a general population. A questionnaire-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients with type 1 diabetes as compared to age- and sex-matched controls.


METHODS
395 patients with type 1 diabetes, registered at the diabetes outpatient unit at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, were studied by use of a GI symptom questionnaire. They were randomly selected within 10-year age intervals from 20 to 69 years. Age- and sex-matched controls (n=242) were sampled from a cohort recruited from the general population.


RESULTS
While the study populations were well matched with regard to age, sex and body mass index (BMI), the diabetic population comprised more smokers and reported symptoms of respiratory and ischemic heart disease more frequently. Symptoms of heartburn, acid regurgitation, nausea and vomiting were significantly more frequent and intense in the diabetic cohort. The occurrence of GI symptoms co-varied with the presence of respiratory and cardiac symptoms but was not predicted by age, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels or the presence of peripheral neuropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with diabetes type 1 had more frequent and intense upper and lower GI symptoms than age- and sex-matched controls, especially if only moderate and severe symptoms were considered. The presence of symptoms was related to lifestyle factors but not to the degree of diabetes control as expressed by the level of HbA1c and the presence of peripheral neuropathy.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Ann-Christine
AC
Mjörnheim
Caterina
C
Finizia
Göran
G
Blohmé
Stig
S
Attvall
Lars
L
Lundell
Magnus
M
Ruth
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology