The condition known as gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying happens when the stomach takes too long to expel its contents. It happens often to people with type 1or type 2 diabetes. The nerves in the stomach, collectively known as the vagus or pneumogastric nerves, are either damaged or they ceased working that's why gastroparesis results. The vagus is responsible for controlling
food movement in the digestive tract.
The relation between gastroparesis and diabetes has long been recognized in the
field of medicine. Diabetes speeds up gastroparesis by damaging the vagus nerves because the sugar level in the blood remains high even for a long period of time. And because the nerves carry blood, high glucose can cause rupture to the nerves.
But a groundbreaking study by the
Cork University Hospital found that an electrical implant can help treat gastroparesis in diabetics. The gastric stimulators, as they are called helped sooth the stomach problem and reduce its symptoms. The implants were tested on two Irish patients who have been suffering a severe form of gastroparesis that is linked to type one diabetes. After being implanted, the patients achieved a more improved condition and their vagus nerves were restored back to normal.
