Gastroparesis, an inability of the stomach to efficiently eliminate its contents, is a chronic condition most commonly associated with diabetes. Gastroparesis can also occur from viral infections, gastroesophageal reflux disease or hypothyroidism. The complications of gastroparesis make proper management of your condition imperative. To prevent it from getting worse, you should also focus on controlling any health condition that may have caused your gastroparesis.
About Gastroparesis
Long-term diabetes can cause damage to the vagus nerve associated with digestive function. This causes a delay in the emptying of the stomach contents that normally level the stomach within two to six hours. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and bloating. Gastroparesis can become worse over time due to the secondary effects of this condition as well as its influence on blood sugar management.
Bacterial Infections
The conditions caused by gastroparesis create the ideal setting for disease-causing microorganisms to flourish. If food lingering in the stomach hardens, there is also an increased risk of obstructions that prevent the stomach contents from emptying into the small intestine. Either of these scenarios can cause a life-threatening situation.
Blood Sugar Control
If you are diabetic, managing your blood sugar is the foundation of your diabetes treatment. Gastroparesis can hamper your efforts to manage your blood sugar because of the unpredictable digestive symptoms. You may need to check your blood sugar more often or change your medication schedule to compensate for these effects. There is also an increased risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood suga,r as well as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Either condition may lead to life-threatening symptoms. If your diabetes becomes hard to manage, you may worsen your gastroparesis from additional damage to the vagus nerve.
Treatment
Like diabetes, gastroparesis cannot be cured. Rather, you must manage your condition to avoid worsening of its symptoms. Treatment often includes a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Your doctor may suggest small, frequent meals in order to better stabilize your blood sugar as well as keep the food in your stomach to a minimum. She may also encourage you to limit the foods that are more likely to stay in the stomach longer such as high-fiber or fatty foods. In addition, some medications can help relieve your nausea or stimulate your stomach muscles to lower your risk of complications.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Diabetes: Complication; March 2011
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Gastroparesis; July 2007
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology"; G. Tortora, et al.; 2005
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: Hypoglycemia
- American Diabetes Association: Hyperglycemia (High Blood Glucose)
- MayoClinic.com; Gastroparesis: Treatments and Drugs; November 2009
