Prevalence and determinants of delayed gastric emptying in hospitalised Type 2 diabetic patients

To determine the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in older patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

One hundred and forty seven patients with Type 2 diabetes, of whom 140 had been hospitalised, mean age 62.3 +/- 8.0 years, HbA1c 9.1% +/- 1.9%, treated with either oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin were studied. GE of a solid meal (scintigraphy), autonomic nerve function, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, acute and chronic glycemic control were evaluated. Gastric emptying results were compared to a control range of hospitalised patients who did not have diabetes.

Gastric emptying was delayed (T50 > 85 min) in 17.7% patients. Mean gastric emptying was slower in females (T50 72.1 +/- 72.1 min vs 56.9 +/- 68.1 min, P = 0.02) and in those reporting nausea (112.3 +/- 67.3 vs 62.7 +/- 70.0 min, P < 0.01) and early satiety (114.0 +/- 135.2 vs 61.1 +/- 62.6 min, P = 0.02). There was no correlation between GE with age, body weight, duration of diabetes, neuropathy, current glycemia or the total score for upper gastrointestinal symptoms.

Prolonged GE occurs in about 20% of hospitalised elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes when compared to hospitalised patients who do not have diabetes. Female gender, nausea and early satiety are associated with higher probability of delayed GE.