Gastroparesis is a disease that reduces your stomach's ability to empty its contents. The nerves that control the muscles that propel food out of the stomach do not function adequately, if at all. This condition is usually a complication of diabetes or some surgeries. It can cause digestive problems and because of the way food eventually gets absorbed and processed, it can have an affect on how your body processes glucose. It is important to know what foods to eat and what foods to help relieve some of the symptoms of this disease and prevent any further complications.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
Most of all, gastroparesis can result in severe discomfort. People who suffer from this condition usually experience abdominal distention, hypoglycemia in those who do not have diabetes, nausea and vomiting, a feeling of fullness quickly after meals, and weight loss. Because of the decrease in appetite and weight loss, you may develop malnutrition, which may only worsen your health over all.
Treatment of Gastroparesis
If you have diabetes, your physician and your dietitian will first treat the symptoms of diabetes, and then prescribe other medications to help control any nausea or vomiting that might be present. They may also recommend that you take medication to stimulate the stomach muscles and in severe cases, your doctor might recommend that you have stomach-bypass surgery to relieve the symptoms. Your dietitian will also give you a list of foods to avoid and guideline to follow to help your stomach and your body absorb and move food through your intestinal tract faster.
Complications That May Arise
Gastroparesis may lead to several complications. A decrease in weight can result in malnutrition because your body has trouble absorbing and processing the nutrients in the foods you consume. Another complication is an increase of bacterial growth in your stomach because food stays there longer than normal and begins to ferment. This disrupts the normal ration between good bacteria and bad bacterial. Yet another complication is that the food that remains in your stomach for long periods may begin to solidify and prevent other food from moving through. This usually results in severe nausea and vomiting. Finally, gastroparesis may worsen diabetes, if present, and uncontrolled diabetes can worsen gastroparesis. This is why it is very important to monitor blood glucose adequately and try to keep it under control.
What to Eat and Other Diet Guidelines
There are some foods that can help control the bacterial growth in you gut by increasing the acidic content of your stomach. Also, there are foods that are just easier for your stomach to push through. These foods include milk, instant breakfast shakes, milkshakes, yogurt, puddings, fruit and dairy smoothies and soft foods like pureed foods or soup. In general, though, you should aim to eat small meals throughout the day so that your stomach doesn't have to deal with too much food at one time. Avoid foods that are high in fiber because they further delay gastric emptying. Also avoid fibrous vegetables because they tend to solidify in the stomach. Finally, drink water or some sort of fluid with every meal and after eating. Additionally, try doing a light exercise, such as walking, to aid in the digestion process.
