Diabetes Education and Research Center
Back Chats
On Thu Sep 15 15:14:40 2005 () said:
This is excatly what my problem is.
Thanks for all the good information. I need to lose some weight and change a few
things and hopefully it will help. I heard that ginger candy helps with the
nausea, I guess you can get it at a health food store, I don't know if it comes
sugar free or not, but I would like to try some of that. I will try eating
smaller meals and stuff. Thanks again
On Thu Sep 15 13:37:42 2005 . (.) said:
The condition where the "nerves" in
the stomach do not function properly is called gastroparesis, which causes
autonomic neuropathy. In short, it is a motility problem in which food is not
processed through the digestive track, usually causing severe nausea (trust me,
been there - done that - - I was diagnosed with this condition 4 years ago).
Here are a few details from WedMD: Digestive Diseases: Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach cannot empty itself of food
in a normal fashion. It is caused by damage to the vagus nerve, which regulates
the digestive system. A damaged vagus nerve prevents the muscles in the stomach
and intestine from functioning, preventing food from moving through the
digestive system properly. Other causes of gastroparesis include: Uncontrolled
diabetes/hypertension Viral infections Gastric surgery with injury to the vagus
nerve Medications such as narcotics and some antidepressants Amyloidosis
(deposits of protein fibers in tissues and organs) and scleroderma (a connective
tissue disorder that affects the skin, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, and
internal organs) What Are the Symptoms of Gastroparesis? Heartburn or GERD
Nausea Vomiting undigested food Feeling full quickly when eating (early satiety)
Abdominal bloating (enlargement) Poor appetite and weight loss Poor blood sugar
control What Complications Are Associated With Gastroparesis? Food that stays in
the stomach too long can ferment, which can lead to the growth of bacteria. Food
in the stomach can harden into a solid collection, called a bezoar. Bezoars can
cause obstructions in the stomach that keep food from passing into the small
intestine. People who have both diabetes and gastroparesis may have more
difficulty, because blood glucose levels rise when food finally leaves the
stomach and enters the small intestine. How Is Gastroparesis Diagnosed? Your
doctor will review your symptoms and medical history. He or she will also give
you a physical examination and may order certain blood tests, including blood
sugar levels. Other tests used to diagnose gastroparesis may include: Barium
X-ray: You drink a liquid (barium), which covers your esophagus, stomach, and
small intestine and shows up on X-ray. This test is also known as an upper GI
(gastrointestinal) series or a barium swallow. Barium beefsteak meal: You eat a
meal with barium in it, and the doctor observes your stomach on X-ray as it
digests the meal. The rate of digestion will tell your doctor how quickly your
stomach is emptying. Radioisotope gastric-emptying scan: You eat food that
contains a radioisotope (a radioactive substance), then lie under a scanning
machine; if the scan shows that more than half of the food is still in your
stomach after one-and-a-half hours, you are diagnosed with gastroparesis.
Gastric manometry: A thin tube that is passed through your mouth and into your
stomach measures the stomach's electrical and muscular activity to determine the
rate of digestion. Electrogastrography: measures electrical activity in the
stomach using electrodes placed on the skin. Ultrasound: This is an imaging test
that uses sound waves to create pictures of body organs. Your doctor may use
ultrasound to eliminate other diseases. Upper endoscopy: This procedure involves
passing a thin tube (endoscope) down your esophagus to examine the lining of
your stomach. What Is the Treatment for Gastroparesis? Gastroparesis is a
chronic (long-lasting) condition. This means that treatment usually doesn't cure
the disease. But there are steps you can take to manage and control the
condition. Some patients may benefit from medications, including: Reglan: You
take this drug before you eat, and it causes your stomach muscles to contract to
help move food out of your stomach. Reglan also decreases the incidence of
vomiting and nausea. Side effects include diarrhea and, rarely, a serious
neurological disorder. Erythromycin: This is an antibiotic that also causes
stomach contractions and helps move food out. Side effects include diarrhea and
development of resistant bacteria from prolonged exposure to the antibiotic.
Antiemetics: These are drugs that help control nausea. People who have diabetes
should try to control their blood glucose levels to minimize the problems of
gastroparesis. Dietary Modifications One of the best ways to help control the
symptoms of gastroparesis is to modify your daily eating habits. For instance,
instead of three meals a day, eat six small meals. In this way, there is less
food in your stomach; you won't feel as full, and it will be easier for the food
to leave your stomach. Another important factor is the consistency of food;
liquids and low residue foods are encouraged (for example, applesauce should
replace whole apples with intact skins). You should also avoid foods that are
high in fat (which can slow down digestion) and fiber (which is difficult to
digest). Other Treatment Options In a severe case of gastroparesis, a feeding
tube, or jejunostomy tube, may be used. The tube is inserted through your
abdomen into your small intestine during surgery. To feed yourself, you put
nutrients into the tube, which go directly into your small intestine; this way,
they bypass the stomach and get into your bloodstream more quickly. The
jejunostomy tube is usually a temporary measure. Another treatment option is
intravenous or parenteral nutrition. This is a feeding method in which nutrients
go directly into your bloodstream through a catheter placed into a vein in your
chest. Like a jejunostomy tube, parenteral nutrition is intended to be a
temporary measure for a severe case of gastroparesis.
On Thu Sep 15 07:26:56 2005 Squats () said:
Translation of missoui's post:
Excuse me I speak French. I would like to know more about the Glucowatch. Its
price and a place where they sell it in France. Thank you for a quick answer. I
can't answer this one, so translated the post.
On Thu Sep 15 00:36:19 2005 Squats () said:
Dear (), Are you sure your
digestive problems are due to nerves? There is a complication of diabetes,
whereby damaged nerves fail to move food through the intestine, but an MD is
best qualified to diagnose it. The following may be helpful: Increase fiber: Raw
leaf lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, bananas, whole grain breads, boil
potatoes with skin on Try an enzyme supplement; that should help digestion Avoid
all white flour products, stick with whole grains, even whole grain pasta. It
goes without saying that a good (check the health fooods store!) mulivitamin is
essential. Find one and get on it. Those made from whole foods are much better
absorbed than the popular brands. Those taken in liquid form or under the tongue
are even better. Garlic is good as well. Get plain ground garlic (not garlic
salt!) for seasoning and use it regularly. Consider adding yogurt (nonfat, plain
organic) to diet. The bacteria in it are "friendly" and help digestion. Make
sure the yogurt you buy is made from milk ALREADY PASTEURIZED, otherwise, it is
of no use. Shoulod you be lactose intolerant, goat yogurt is a good choice. I
have posted a lot of info, but it could save you a trip to the doctor! Take
care. Squats
On Wed Sep 14 21:07:22 2005 () said:
I'm having trouble with the nerves in
my stomach, according to the dr. I'm not digesting food right. Does anyone know
anything about this and what I can do for it. It's hard to eat and when I do I
feel full and sick.
On Wed Sep 14 09:08:23 2005 () said:
Don't attack squats, at least he gets
on here and tries to help people. I don't see anyone else doing that. This board
will go weeks with out anyone saying anything.
On Tue Sep 13 07:14:04 2005 () said:
Dear Squats. I thought this was a place
to talk about diabetes and what drives me crazy? You pathetic maggot!
On Mon Sep 12 08:16:08 2005 missaoui (missaouimisaoui@yahoo.fr) said:
salut
. je m'exuse;je parle Francais . SVP je voudrais savoir plus sur GLUCOWATCH .
Son prix et lieu de vente En France. Merci de me repondre tres vite.
On Fri Sep 9 16:53:14 2005 Squats () said:
Dear Shaiqua: That question is
best handled by a minister, not here.
On Fri Sep 9 09:55:02 2005 Shaiqua () said:
Did God give me diabetes because
I'm a lesbian? I'm being serious. I hate God if he did.......
On Thu Sep 8 23:28:22 2005 Squats () said:
Dear () You will find I often do
answer questions.
On Thu Sep 8 21:54:58 2005 () said:
no one is ever here and if they are they
never answer your questions or respond to them
On Thu Sep 8 02:06:15 2005 () said:
i guess no one is here.
On Thu Sep 8 02:01:23 2005 james (jcameron-3@msn.com) said:
me and my
condition have a love hate relationship
On Wed Sep 7 12:05:32 2005 Squats () said:
Dear Loganathan: Talk to your
wife's doc: she may need a snack before bed: carbs and protein to keep glucose
stable over night.
On Tue Sep 6 03:34:01 2005 loganathan (plnath47@yahoo.com) said:
my wief is
diabetic and during day time blood sugar level could be controlled with in close
range, but during night her blood sugar falls and at 6 am she goes to
hypoglycemia.
On Mon Sep 5 21:29:02 2005 Squats () said:
RDA? Too much disinformation
about this. RDA is geared for a sedentary male of 150 lbs-minimum nutrients to
hold off deficiency. Factors to consider: Amount of and type of activity (weight
training requires more protein, so does aerobic exercise), age, gender, bodyfat
percentage, total bodyweight, bodystrength, metabolic problems, diet makeup.
Generally speaking, everyubody should take a good multivatimin, a good one, not
one a day or Centrum. Squats
On Mon Sep 5 13:28:31 2005 john (johnshirley@sbcglobal.net) said:
i have a
question on my mechine if i am taken too much. my doctor put me on astos in
additon to my other mechines. since then it seem that my blood sugar has
increase. could this be that it may be an interaction ?
Copyright © 2005 Diabetes Education and Research Center