Having diabetes is similar to being exposed to an open pandora box of health-related crises. This complication affects various parts of your body, including the gastrointestinal tract, which results in gastroparesis. It is a digestive disorder that delays the emptying of the stomach.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body consumes energy. When you have diabetes, your body either fails to produce enough insulin or doesn’t utilize it. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas that converts glucose from food into energy. The absence or ineffective use of insulin spikes the blood sugar and leads to diabetes.
Types of Diabetes
Two types of diabetes have been observed – type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune diseases in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body and destroys the cells that produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the body cannot use insulin properly nor maintains blood sugar levels.
Even though there isn’t yet a diabetes treatment or a cure for gastroparesis, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can control the disease. Let us further discuss the symptoms and risk factors associated with diabetic stomach pain and how to manage it.
Gastroparesis and its Risk Factors
Diabetes often connects to a plethora of digestive disorders such as diarrhoea, heartburn, and the most common, gastroparesis. This type of disorder slows down the transfer of food from the stomach to the small intestine. It damages the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach and small intestine muscles. Gastroparesis is a common condition found in people who suffer diabetes of type 1 or have had type 2 diabetes for over a decade. High blood sugar, neuropathy, obesity, scleroderma, infection, and heavy smoking increase the risk for gastroparesis.
Symptoms of Diabetic Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis has the following signs and symptoms:
- Abdominal bloating
- Early feeling of fullness during meals
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Unstable blood sugar levels
- Poor appetite
Diagnosis
If any of these symptoms worry you, search for the “best endocrinologist in India“, and you will be redirected to Seekmed. Our diabetes doctor will evaluate your medical history and symptoms. Based on your reports, they might further refer you to a gastroenterologist. You may also register on the Seekmed app to reach some of the best gastroenterologists in India and diagnose your digestive disease.
