Digestive issues are a common thing for people who have lived with diabetes a long time. The symptoms are so common that they have a name. Collectively, they are known as diabetic enteropathy and include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroparesis, fecal incontinence and abdominal distension, all of which significantly reduce their quality of life.
1. Irritable bowel syndrome
Also known as IBS, this is a common disorder that affects the colon (large intestine). Commonly, IBS causes abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, bloating and gas. Signs of IBS are uncomfortable, but they do not cause changes in bowel changes that could lead to colorectal cancer.
2. Gastroparesis
Usually, muscle contractions move the food forward in the intestinal tract. However, in gastroparesis, these contractions work poorly or not at all, preventing the stomach from being emptied properly. Gastroparesis can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as problems with blood sugar level.
3. Fecal incontinence
This condition refers to the inability to control bowel movements, causing feces to leak from the rectum. Fecal incontinence ranges from the occasional leak while passing gas to the complete loss of bowel control.
Without a doubt, fecal incontinence can be embarrassing. However, don’t be shy about it and talk to your doctor if you experience it. Treatments are available and it will definitely improve your quality of life.
4. Abdominal distension
Abdominal distension occurs when gas or fluid accumulates in the abdomen and causes an expansion beyond the normal girth of the waist. Burping the way the body gets rid of excessive air accumulated in the stomach.
The Cause
The cause of this was not really known, but now a study has revealed the possible culprit. According to a report from Science Daily, the cause may be that the liver produces an excessive amount of protein that can hinder digestion.
A study, carried out by a international group of researchers, found why 80 percent of patients with type 1 diabetes have gastrointestinal problems.
The findings of the study showed the intestinal cell lining is damaged in patients with type 1 diabetes, and that the stem cells that maintain this lining are damaged. Insulin-like growth factor protein 3 (IGFBP3) was found to be produced in higher amounts in type 1 diabetes patients. An overproduction of IGFBP3 causes the dead of the colonic stem cells, and in turn the cell lining cannot be maintained and is ultimately damaged.
[expand title=”References“]
[/expand]
