Gastric emptying is accelerated in obese type 2 diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy

Objective: To clarify the impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the gastric emptying rate. Material and methods: Using a double-isotope scintigraphic technique, we assessed the gastric emptying of a standard liquid-solid meal in 13 obese type 2 diabetic patients without autonomic neuropathy(age: 47.4 +/- 8.6 yr, body mass index: 33.9 +/- 4.8 kg/m(2), glycaemia: 9.1 +/- 2.6 mmol/l) and in 7 controls with similar sex ratio, age, BMI and body fat distribution. Results: The half gastric emptying time for the liquid phase was not significantly different between diabetic patients and controls (respectively: 52.7 +/- 14.5 min and 63.1 +/- 15.2 min). However, the half gastric emptying time for the solid phase was significantly shortened in diabetic patients versus controls (respectively 88.8 +/- 23.2 min in diabetic patients and 113.6 +/- 26.9 min in controls; p < 0.04). Furthermore, a negative relationship was highlighted between the half gastric emptying time for the solid phase and basal glycaemia (r = -0.65, p < 0.02) in diabetic patients. No significant relationship was found between gastric emptying parameters and cardiac autonomic nerve function, insulin or gastrin levels. Conclusion: Solid gastric emptying is accelerated in obese type 2 diabetic patients without patent autonomic neuropathy when compared to obese non diabetic patients.