Gastroparesis is a condition that affects those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. With this condition, the stomach takes a long time before it empties its contents. The condition is also known as delayed gastric emptying.
What Causes Gastroparesis in Diabetes
The vagus nerve is responsible for controlling the movement of food within the digestive tract. When this nerve is damaged, the intestine and stomach muscles will not be able to function normally. Thus, the movement of food slows down or eventually stops.
Similar to other kinds of neuropathy, diabetes causes damage to the vagus nerve when the blood glucose is not controlled and remains high persistently. High blood glucose triggers chemical changes in the nerves and causes damage in the blood vessels carrying nutrients and oxygen. Therefore, leading to gastroparesis.
