Gastric emptying is accelerated in obese type 2 diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the gastric emptying rate.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using a double-isotope scintigraphic technique, we assessed the gastric emptying of a standard liquid-solid meal in 13 obese type 2 diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy (age: 47.4 +/- 8.6 yr, body mass index: 33.9 +/- 4.8 kg/m(2), glycaemia: 9.1 +/- 2.6 mmol/l) and in 7 controls with similar sex ratio, age, BMI and body fat distribution.

RESULTS

The half gastric emptying time for the liquid phase was not significantly different between diabetic patients and controls (respectively: 52.7 +/- 14.5 min and 63.1 +/- 15.2 min). However, the half gastric emptying time for the solid phase was significantly shortened in diabetic patients versus controls (respectively 88.8 +/- 23.2 min in diabetic patients and 113.6 +/- 26.9 min in controls; p<0.04). Furthermore, a negative relationship was highlighted between the half gastric emptying time for the solid phase and basal glycaemia (r=-0.65, p<0.02) in diabetic patients. No significant relationship was found between gastric emptying parameters and cardiac autonomic nerve function, insulin or gastrin levels.

CONCLUSION

Solid gastric emptying is accelerated in obese type 2 diabetic patients without patent autonomic neuropathy when compared to obese non diabetic patients.