Diabetic diarrhea. An underdiagnosed complication?

Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal problem in diabetes, and its prevalence has been underestimated. The cause of diabetic diarrhea is unknown, but it is probably related to gastrointestinal motility disturbances secondary to diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Other causes (especially primary malabsorption syndromes and islet cell tumors) must be excluded. Treatment of diabetic diarrhea is largely symptomatic and only moderately effective. Antidiarrheal agents may ameliorate acute episodes. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres) have had some success in long-term control. Most recently, subcutaneous administration of somatostatin analogues has been shown to be helpful, the main side effects being drowsiness and vomiting.