Does Diabetic Microvascular Complications Affect Gastrointestinal Symptoms?

Due to high prevalence of diabetes in our region (16.3%) and no data on the frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in this population, we performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the frequency of GIsymptoms in diabetic patients and its association between microvascular complications (retinopathy and nephropathy) and gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetic subjects.This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 on 233 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 30-65-year, referred to Yazd diabetic research center. They were selected by convenient sample method. A questionnaire according to Rome III Criteria was used to collect digestive information related to diabetes. Last HbA1c (Since 2-3 months ago) was available in the patient's medical folder. Diabetic nephropathy defines to increased excretion rate of albumin in the urine in the range of above 30 mg/g creatinine. Diabetic retinopathy was examined by an expert ophthalmologist (retinal specialist). For the current study, 233 patients (age 30-65 years with mean age of 57.43±10.49 years, 102 (43.8%) males and 131 (56.2%) females) were included. Among 233 patients, 91 cases (39.1%) had nephropathy,and 111(47.6%) subjects had different degrees of retinopathy. Bloating and early satiety and upper GI symptoms were higher in the subjects with retinopathy than another group. In summary, this study provides evidence that GI symptoms in diabetic subjects are independently linked to diabetic complications, particularly to retinopathy.