Guar and gastric emptying in non-insulin dependent diabetes

A gamma camera was used to measure gastric emptying in 10 non-insulin dependent diabetics and 10 control subjects and after a breakfast meal of porridge labelled with 113mIn. In the diabetics there was a more rapid early phase and a more prolonged later phase of gastric emptying compared with controls. Incorporation of 10 g guar with the meal prolonged the later phase of gastric emptying in controls. However, guar did not significantly alter gastric emptying in the diabetics, although postprandial plasma glucose concentrations were reduced. The study demonstrates abnormalities of both the early and later phases of gastric emptying in an unselected group of non-insulin dependent diabetics. Guar reduced plasma glucose concentrations without affecting gastric emptying in these patients.