A 25-year longitudinal evaluation of gastric emptying in diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the natural history of gastric emptying in diabetes.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with diabetes (12, type 1; 1, type 2) had measurements of gastric emptying, blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and autonomic nerve function at baseline and after 24.7 ± 1.5 years.


RESULTS
There was no change in gastric emptying of either solids (% retention at 100 min) (baseline 58.5 ± 5% vs. follow-up 51.9 ± 8%; P = 0.35) or liquids (50% emptying time) (baseline 29.8 ± 3 min vs. follow-up 34.3 ± 6 min; P = 0.37). Gastric emptying of solid at follow-up was related to emptying at baseline (r = 0.56, P < 0.05). At follow-up, blood glucose concentrations were lower (P = 0.006), autonomic function deteriorated (P = 0.03), and gastrointestinal symptoms remained unchanged (P = 0.17).


CONCLUSIONS
In unselected patients with diabetes, gastric emptying appears remarkably stable over 25 years.
University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Jessica
J
Chang
Antonietta
A
Russo
Michelle
M
Bound
Christopher K
CK
Rayner
Karen L
KL
Jones
Michael
M
Horowitz
D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin