Over time, the fluctuating glucose concentration in your blood causes nerve damage. High glucose levels result in chemical changes around nerves, which affects the blood vessels that supply the nerve cells with oxygen and nutrients. This damage eventually harms the nerve and prevents it from acting normally. In the case of gastroparesis, it is the main nerve that controls that gastrointestinal system, the vagus nerve, that suffers from damage.
When the vagus nerve is damaged, it does not stimulate the stomach into passing food through the intestinal system. Thus, food can build up in the stomach, causing symptoms such as bloating, heartburn, nausea, abdominal pain, and a loss of appetite, among other things. The danger of gastroparesis is that food left in the stomach can harden into masses called bezoars. Bezoars can cause blockages in the intestinal system that can lead to serious infections. Sometimes, the food itself can spoil and grow bacteria.
Because the damage to the vagus nerve is fairly extensive, gastroparesis is often permanent. However, you can manage your symptoms with medication and dietary changes. In some severe cases, you may need a feeding tube to help you get the nutrients that you need. Sadly, though, the medications available to help treat gastroparesis can be harmful themselves. One medication used to treat gastroparesis is Reglan, which uses a drug called metoclopramide to stimulate the gastrointestinal system into passing food along faster.
On the other hand, Reglan has been linked to severe neuromuscular disorders such as tardive dyskinesia. This causes uncontrollable muscle spasms of the face and neck that can be painful and even embarrassing. Thus, it is up to you and your doctor to decide if taking Reglan is the best decision for you.
Posted in: Diabetes
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