What
is Gastroparesis? Gastroparesis
is delayed stomach emptying. Gastroparesis often occurs in people with type 1 diabetes or
type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
of Gastroparesis?
The
most common symptoms of gastroparesis are:
- nausea
- vomiting
of undigested food
- full
stomach when you eat a small amount of food
- weight
loss with normal eating
- abdominal
bloating
- heart
burn
What
Causes Gastroparesis? Gastroparesis
is caused by impairment of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is responsible for
mediating many automatic functions of the body, including heart rate and digestion.
If the vagus nerve is not working properly, the muscles of the stomach and intestines
do not work normally, and the movement of food is slowed or stopped.
What
happens during Gastroparesis? When
a person has gastroparesis, the stomach is able
to receive food from the esophagus but it is unable to release the food to the
small intestine. When this happens, the stomach
acid can travel up the esophagus causing a burning sensation in the middle of
the chest (heartburn). As
a result of having gastroparesis, the stomach may feel full after small meals.
This occurs because the stomach may not have emptied its contents from previous
meal(s). In extreme cases, several meals will accumulate in the stomach and cause
severe bloating. How
does Gastroparesis affect Diabetics? Gastroparesis
can make it difficult for people with diabetes to
control their blood sugar levels. This occurs because if the stomach empties too
slowly, it can have the same effects on blood sugar as skipping a meal. Blood
sugars will plummet and rise depending on when the stomach empties.
How
is Gastroparesis Diagnosed? Your
doctor can diagnose gastroparesis by performing the following tests: - R-R
interval study
- Gamma-Ray
Technetium scan
- Barium
Hamburger test
Treatment
Options for Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis
can be treated. The most common treatments for gastroparesis are:
- medications
- special
exercises during and after meals
- special massages duing and after meals
- modification
of meal plan
| 
