Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

Gastric emptying of solid meals in diabetics.

Br Med J 1976; 2 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.6037.671 (Published 18 September 1976) Cite this as: Br Med J 1976;2:671
  1. J H Scarpello,
  2. D C Barber,
  3. R V Hague,
  4. D R Cullen,
  5. G E Sladen

    Abstract

    The gastric emptying rate of an isotopically labelled solid meal was compared in 29 insulin-dependent well-controlled diabetics and 18 normal controls. The diabetics were assessed for evidence of autonomic neuropathy. No significant difference in gastric emptying rate was found between controls and diabetics with or without autonomic neuropathy. Only three diabetics had greatly delayed gastric emptying, but in one of these the test had given a normal result on an earlier occasion.