Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Diabetes

DIABETES mellitus affects every organ system; the gastrointestinal tract is no exception.GeneralDiabetic AcidosisAnorexia, nausea and vomiting are common early symptoms of diabetic acidosis, occurring in about 75 per cent of cases.1 2 Gastric dilatation is frequent during acidosis2 and presumably can be responsible for vomiting. Gastric dilatation may in some way be related to high levels of ketone bodies and systemic acidosis, but the rising blood sugar may contribute by causing a reduction in gastric motility.3 , 4 Because of gastric dilatation, it is often advisable to empty the stomach of a patient in diabetic acidosis; when this is done, . . .