Diabetes and the Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastrointestinal symptoms are more prevalent in patients with diabetes in comparison with the general population and have a negative impact on the quality of life. Disordered gastrointestinal motor and sensory function occur frequently in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and can manifest in a variety of signs and symptoms. There is an association between prevalence of GI symptoms and poor glycaemic control. Gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying, can be seen in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with higher prevalence of gastroparesis in type 1 diabetes (30-50%) than type 2 diabetes (10-30%).