Predictors of Delayed Gastric Emptying in Diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To define the predictors of the rate of gastric emptying in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 101 outpatients with diabetes (79 type 1 and 22 type 2) underwent measurements of gastric emptying of a solid/liquid meal (scintigraphy), upper gastrointestinal symptoms (questionnaire), glycemic control (blood glucose concentrations during gastric emptying measurement), and autonomic nerve function (cardiovascular reflexes). RESULTS—The gastric emptying of solid and/or liquid was delayed in 66 (65%) patients. Solid (retention at 100 min 64 ± 3.2 vs. 50.2 ± 3.6%, P < 0.005) and liquid (retention at 100 min 22.7 ± 1.7 vs. 16.0 ± 1.8%, P < 0.001) gastric emptying was slower in women than in men. Of all upper gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea and vomiting), only abdominal bloating/fullness was associated with slower gastric emptying (P < 0.005). A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both abdominal bloating/fullness and female sex were predictors of slower gastric emptying of both solids and liquids. CONCLUSIONS—We conclude that the presence of abdominal bloating/fullness but not any other upper gastrointestinal symptom is associated with diabetic gastroparesis and that gastric emptying is slower in diabetic women than in diabetic men.