How Does Diarrhea Result From Diabetes?

Diabetes can affect any part of the digestive system, leading to persistently high blood sugar levels that can cause symptoms like diarrhea in some cases. It is unclear why this happens, but nerve damage, medication, and other factors may play a role. About 20 of people with diabetes experience diarrhea, and it is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Idiopathic diarrhea is a subtype of chronic diarrhea, occurring frequently but not exclusively in patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Up to one in five people with this complication will experience diarrhea, according to a 2016 study.

Diarrhea is a common symptom of diabetes and has various possible causes. Diabetic diarrhea, a subtype of chronic diarrhea, is more likely among patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Causes of diarrhea with diabetes can include diet or medications like metformin, used to treat type 2 diabetes. Diarrhea is more likely among patients with type 2 diabetes. Common causes of diarrhea include food intolerances, irritable bowel syndrome, and excessive consumption of coffee or alcohol.

In summary, diabetes can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, which is a common complication of the condition. Factors such as nerve damage, medication, and diet can contribute to the development of this condition.

Can insulin resistance cause diarrhea?

Insulin resistance is a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, leading to increased thirst, frequent urine excretion, and increased hunger. It can result in weight gain or loss, weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor mental stamina, and sleepiness. Individuals with insulin resistance may be overweight or obese, with the fat stored around the abdominal organs. Excess carbohydrates in the diet can cause symptoms such as intestinal bloating, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. High cholesterol and triglycerides levels may also be present, with fatty deposits around the eyes in severe cases. Dark skin patches may be visible on parts of the neck, elbows, knuckles, knees, or armpits. Hyperglycemia in insulin resistance may also cause frequent genital infections, such as thrush. Raised blood pressure is another common symptom. Dr. Ananya Mandal, a doctor, lecturer, and medical writer, specializes in Clinical Pharmacology and believes that health communication should not only be about writing complicated reviews for professionals but also making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public.

How does diabetes affect the digestive system?

Diabetes can damage the nerves in the stomach and slow or stop digestion.

Normally, your stomach muscles tighten to move food through your digestive tract. If you have gastroparesis, nerve damage from high blood sugar can cause those muscles to slow down or stop working.

Because gastroparesis affects how fast the body absorbs food, it’s harder to know how much insulin you’ll need when you eat. Gastroparesis also affects how well the body absorbs food, which can lead to malnutrition if left untreated.

Symptoms. Have you ever eaten a large meal and then felt “stuffed” afterward? With gastroparesis, you may have that “stuffed” feeling, bloating, discomfort, or pain after eating even a small amount of food. This can happen soon after you start eating or long after you finish your meal if your stomach isn’t emptying properly.

Can hypoglycemia cause diarrhea?

Introduction. The majority of cases of post-prandial reactive hypoglycemia are considered idiopathic. Abnormalities of B-cell function and glucose regulation by insulin and glucagon have been postulated as causes but associated gastrointestinal dysfunction has not been reported. We report the first case of accelerated gastric emptying associated with post-prandial reactive hypoglycemia, abdominal bloating and diarrhea. We consider that gastric dysmotility is an important cause of this condition as treatment of the underlying abnormal gastric emptying allows effective control of symptoms.

Case presentation. A 20-year-old Caucasian woman presented with post-prandial fatigue, sweating, nausea, faintness and intermittent confusion, which had led to pre-syncope and syncope on occasions. She also experienced marked abdominal bloating and diarrhea over the same period. These episodes responded to oral administration of sweet drinks. Her symptoms were ameliorated by modification of her diet.

Conclusion. This is an original case report of the association of idiopathic accelerated gastric emptying with post-prandial reactive hypoglycemia and diarrhea. Family physicians, endocrinologists and gastroenterologists often consult patients with a constellation of post-prandial symptoms, which are considered to be idiopathic in most cases. This case indicates that gastric dysmotility might be the primary cause of these symptoms in some patients and, if found, offers a therapeutic target which in our case was successful.

What causes sudden uncontrollable diarrhea?

Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including norovirus and rotavirus. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute diarrhea.

Bacterial infections. Several types of bacteria can enter your body through contaminated food or water and cause diarrhea. Common bacteria that cause diarrhea include Campylobacter, Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), Salmonella, and Shigella.

How does diabetes cause diarrhea?

• Celiac disease and microscopic colitis: People with diabetes appear to have a higher risk of these conditions. The only symptom may be diarrhea.
• Sugar-free sweeteners and other ingredients: Consuming these products may increase the risk of diarrhea. Sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol, for example, can have a laxative effect.
• Neuropathy: High blood sugar levels can lead to nerve damage. If this affects the nerves of the small intestine, it can lead to diarrhea, especially at night. Neuropathy can also affect anorectal function, making fecal incontinence more likely.
• Pancreatic function: Diabetes affects how the pancreas works. This can lead to gastrointestinal disturbances. People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to experience pancreatitis, for instance, than those without diabetes. Diarrhea is a symptom of pancreatitis.
• Diabetic enteropathy: This is a condition that affects the large intestine. It can cause diarrhea, constipation, and fecal incontinence. It’s more likely to occur in people with diabetes than those without.
• Diabetes medication: Metformin, statins, and other drugs you might be taking for diabetes and related conditions can affect how your intestines work. Research suggests 15% to 24% of people who take metformin may have diarrhea.
• Bacterial overgrowth: This happens when certain types of bacteria become too plentiful in the gut. It can occur with diabetic enteropathy.

People with diabetes can also have the same causes of diarrhea as people without diabetes, such as :

• Allergies and food intolerances, such as to dairy and fructose
• long-term use of antibiotics, which can affect the makeup of the gut microbiota
• medications, such as antacids containing magnesium and some cancer therapies

How does sugar cause diarrhoea?

Sugar. Sugars stimulate the gut to put out water and electrolytes, which loosen bowel movements. If you ingest a lot of sugar, you may develop diarrhea. One of the biggest offenders is fructose, which is found naturally in fruits (such as peaches, pears, cherries, and apples) or added to foods and drinks, such as applesauce, soda, and juice beverages. Many people who ingest more than 40 to 80 grams of fructose per day will get diarrhea. Another offender: artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol (found in sugar-free gum, candy, and medications).

Dairy foods. These contain lactose, which some people have a hard time digesting. Watch out for cheese, milk, and ice cream, among many other products.

FODMAPs. Fructose, artificial sweeteners, and lactose are part a group of poorly digested sugars that can cause diarrhea, known as FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols). Other sources of FODMAPs include wheat, rye, onions, garlic, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans), honey, pistachios, cashews, asparagus, and artichokes.

How does diabetes affect bowel function?

How are diabetes and diarrhea related?. Diabetes can cause diarrhea, along with several other gastrointestinal (digestive) problems. Diarrhea is a common symptom of diabetes. It’s more common in people who have had diabetes for a long time.

Sometimes, people with diabetes-related diarrhea also experience fecal (bowel) incontinence, especially at night. That’s because nerve damage (neuropathy) due to diabetes affects the anal sphincter. The anal sphincter is the muscle that opens and closes to allow poop to exit your body.

What is diabetes?. Diabetes mellitus is a condition that happens when your body can’t produce or use the hormone insulin. Insulin allows blood sugar (glucose) into your cells so your body can use it as energy. If you have diabetes, your cells don’t respond to insulin as they should. Your cells don’t absorb the glucose, so the sugar builds up in your blood.

There are two types of diabetes : Type 1 and Type 2. Both can have similar symptoms and complications.

What are the bowel problems with diabetes?

The gastrointestinal tract, which extends from the mouth to the anus, plays a crucial role in maintaining life by ingestion, breakdown, digestion, and absorption of nutrients. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gastro-esophageal reflux, bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence, are common in people with diabetes. Over 50% of individuals attending outpatient diabetic clinics will experience distressing gastrointestinal symptoms at some stage. Gastrointestinal motor dysfunction is also common in diabetes and may impact glycemic control. The most important motor dysfunction is gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are more common in type 1 and 2 diabetes, with most studies suggesting they are significantly more common than in controls without diabetes. However, these symptoms are often not volunteered, particularly embarrassing ones like fecal incontinence. Symptoms are evaluated in clinical trials using participant self-report rather than validated measures, which are used widely in assessing functional gastrointestinal disorders. Symptoms are more common in women with diabetes, as is the case with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Gastrointestinal symptoms have a substantial negative impact on quality of life in people with diabetes. There is a poor correlation between gastrointestinal symptoms and measures of function, such as the rate of gastric emptying. The natural history of gastrointestinal symptoms remains poorly defined, but it is known that symptom onset and disappearance are common, with considerable symptom turnover observed in type 2 patients. This symptom turnover has been associated with depression but not with autonomic neuropathy or glycemic control.

How does insulin resistance affect the digestive system?

Insulin resistance, independent of obesity, increases the risk of developing acid reflux.

Insulin resistance impairs gallbladder function, leading to excess cholesterol accumulation that can form gallstones.

Insulin resistance slows movement of food through the intestines, contributing to gastroparesis.

During pregnancy, rising insulin resistance is the most predictive factor for developing gallstones.

In animal studies, injecting insulin directly led to increased gallstone formation within 1-2 weeks.

Can glucose drink cause diarrhea?

Other side effects of glucose Upset stomach or throwing up. Diarrhea.

Medically reviewed by Drugs. com. Last updated on Apr 18, 2024.

Applies to glucose: oral gel, oral liquid, oral tablet chewable.

Why does glucose malabsorption cause diarrhea?

When your child has a mutation in the SLC5A1 gene, they can’t absorb glucose and galactose. Instead, these sugars remain in the intestinal tract, along with water that would have been absorbed with them. This can result in severe diarrhea and dehydration.