Disorders of Gastrointestinal Motility Associated with Diabetes Mellitus

  1. MARK FELDMAN, M.D.; and
  2. LAWRENCE R. SCHILLER, M.D.
  1. Dallas, Texas

    Abstract

    Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence occur frequently in patients with diabetes mellitus. In a survey of 136 diabetic outpatients, 76% had one or more gastrointestinal symptoms, the commonest symptom being constipation (found in 60%). In many cases these symptoms are thought to be due to abnormal gastrointestinal motility that, in turn, may be a manifestation of diabetic autonomic neuropathy involving the gastrointestinal tract. The pathophysiology of these gastrointestinal symptoms, clarified in recent studies, and the clinical features and treatment of these problems in diabetic patients are reviewed.

    Article and Author Information

    • ▸From the Department of Internal Medicine, Dallas V.A. Medical Center and University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas; Dallas, Texas

    • Grant support: in part by grants AM16816 and AM26794 from the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, and by a grant from the Abbe K. Dreyfuss Fund of the Southwestern Medical Foundation.

    • ▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Mark Feldman, M.D.; V.A. Medical Center (151), 4500 S. Lancaster Road; Dallas, TX 75216.

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    1. Ann Intern Med March 1, 1983 vol. 98 no. 3 378-384
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