Gastrointestinal function in diabetes is affected regardless of asymptomatic appearance.

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal dysmotility may exist without concomitant symptoms. We hypothesize that asymptomatic individuals with diabetes have altered gastrointestinal function associated with age, cardiac vagal tone and glycaemic control.

METHODS

One hundred fifty-four asymptomatic participants (61 with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 70 type 2 diabetes (T2D) and 23 healthy volunteers (HV)) underwent wireless motility capsule investigation. Transit times, motility indices and pH were retrieved. Age, cardiac vagal tone, glucose and haemoglobin A1c levels were collected.

RESULTS

In T1D, prolongation of colonic (p = 0.03) and whole-gut transit times (p = 0.04) were shown. Transpyloric pH rise was decreased in T1D (p = 0.001) and T2D (p = 0.007) and was associated with cardiac vagal tone (p = 0.03) or glucose (p = 0.04) and haemoglobin A1c (p = 0.005). Ileocaecal pH fall was decreased in T2D (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Gastrointestinal function was altered in asymptomatic individuals with diabetes. These findings call for further investigations of gastrointestinal function in order to identify risk factors or even predictors for diabetic enteropathy, particularly when glycaemic control is impaired.