Gastroparesis Causes and Treatments

By Marci Sloane|2018-07-10T14:06:03-04:00Updated: December 1st, 2014|Diabetes Management, DIY Diabetes Articles|0 Comments

Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) is a condition sometimes associated with diabetes when there is a delay with the stomach emptying its contents. This delay is due to stomach nerve damage caused by high blood sugars over a long period of time.

The result of gastroparesis is that instead of contractions pushing the food through the stomach, the food stays around in the stomach until acid and digestive enzymes break it down and gravity helps the process. When food lingers in the stomach too long, it can cause bacterial overgrowth from fermentation of food – flatulence. The food can also harden and cause nausea, vomiting and obstruction in the stomach.

How do you know if you have it?

You may feel full or bloated after only a few bites of food. You may experience vomiting, heartburn, nausea or excessive belching after eating.

Common treatments for gastroparesis:

  • Keep blood sugar in the best control
  • Eat small, frequent meals
  • Limit food that are hard to digest (high fiber, high fat, citrus fruits)
  • Replace some solid meals with liquid meals
  • Limit/avoid alcohol and caffeine
  • Exercise to increase motility

Please consult your doctor to determine if you have this condition to avoid serious complications.

About the Author: Marci Sloane

Marci SloaneMarci Sloane, MS, RD, LD/N, CDE, is a registered and licensed dietitian/nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. She grew up in NYC where she graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Physiology from Teachers College at Columbia University. For over a decade, Marci managed a Diabetes and Nutrition Education Center at a multi-bed hospital in South Florida and has been counseling people on healthy eating, weight loss, and managing diseases and conditions such as: diabetes, pre-diabetes, healthy eating, heart disease, weight loss, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, hypertension, hypoglycemia and a host of other nutrition-related diseases. Marci is an American Diabetes Association Valor Award recipient and lectures frequently to the public and healthcare professionals. Marci was a featured panelist for the Sun-Sentinel's "Let's Take It Off" weight loss program, was highlighted in the Palm Beach Post: Meet Your Neighbor, "Woman's book on healthy eating uses humor as a key ingredient" and was a participant in their Diabetes Series in 2007. Marci Sloane is a member of the American Diabetes Association’s Health Professional Committee.

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