The autonomic nervous system makes the stomach contract and empty. A person with diabetes is no different than anyone else in that stomach problems may be caused by any number of factors other than diabetes. That is why stomach problems are investigated the same way.
The symptoms of stomach nerve damage result from food passing through the stomach slower than it should. Typical symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, bloating, feeling full sooner than usual, vomiting and nausea. Stomach nerve damage can also be asymptomatic. Symptoms may occur periodically between asymptomatic periods. Stomach nerve damage is called gastroparesis.
Sometimes, the only symptom hinting at gastroparesis is low blood sugar without any apparent reason. The reason is that bolus insulin starts to act before the carbohydrates in the food have had time to move on from the slowly operating stomach.
When it comes to examining the symptoms, it is important to use endoscopy to rule out other diseases of the digestive tract. If need be, the rate at which the stomach empties can be examined using gammography.
Essential for this treatment are a good blood sugar balance and nutritional guidance. High blood sugar makes the stomach take even longer to empty. Dosing bolus insulin is made easier by an insulin pump, which allows the selection of individual mealtime insulin dosing methods. In terms of pharmaceutical products, metoclopramide and erythromycin make the stomach empty faster. In some patients, they also alleviate symptoms in the upper abdomen. Otherwise, when it comes to medication, pharmaceutical products which slow down the stomach should be avoided. A device called neurostimulator can be used in severe cases.