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[Studies on orocecal transit in diabetes mellitus]
S Lautenbacher1, G Galfe, M Haslbeck
1Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Klinisches Institut, München.
Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983)
|May 15, 1990
Summary
Type 1 diabetes patients exhibit delayed gastrointestinal transit times. This prolonged oro-cecal transit may stem from specific gastrointestinal neuropathy or metabolic factors, not general small fiber neuropathy.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Diabetology
- Neurology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus can affect gastrointestinal function.
- Understanding gastrointestinal transit in diabetes is crucial for patient management.
- Small fiber neuropathy is a known complication of diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gastrointestinal transit times in type 1 diabetes patients.
- To evaluate the relationship between transit times, metabolic state, and small fiber neuropathy.
- To identify potential causes of altered gastrointestinal motility in diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a hydrogen exhalation method to measure oro-cecal transit times.
- Assessed small fiber neuropathy using resting pulse frequency variability and respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
- Measured warm and cold thresholds at the foot to index neuropathy.
- Analyzed HbA1c levels as a marker of metabolic control.
Main Results:
- Diabetes patients demonstrated significantly prolonged oro-cecal transit times compared to healthy controls (102.7 min vs. 79.6 min).
- No significant correlations were found between transit times and indices of small fiber neuropathy or metabolic parameters (HbA1c).
- Two patients exhibited extremely long transit times; no patients showed accelerated transit.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged gastrointestinal transit is evident in type 1 diabetes.
- The findings suggest a specific visceral-autonomic or enteric neuropathy affecting the GI system.
- Metabolic effects may also contribute to delayed transit, independent of generalized neuropathy.