What is Diabetes Diarrhea?

A gastrointestinal obstacle of diabetes that perseveres from specific weeks to months called diabetes diarrhea. It transpires in people with imperfectly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes along with verification of diabetic peripheral and autonomic neuropathy.  Condition is often accompanied by fecal incontinence and autonomic neuropathy thought to be an underlying mechanism. Soaring blood sugar levels harm the small blood vessel and nerves in the body including the digestive system. Facilitate or slackening process in intestines result in diarrhea or constipation. The entire GI tract is pretentious by diabetes from the oral cavity and esophagus to the large bowel and anorectal regions.

Effects & Causes of Diabetic Diarrhea

Habitual complaints include dysphasia, early satiety, reflux, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When people eat foods that curb a lot of sugar, water enters their intestines resulting in loose stools. Fructose is an ingredient of table sugar found naturally in fruits. People with diabetes may frequently need to pass a notable amount of loose stool at night.  Diabetic are powerless to control bowel movement. Diarrhea may be systematic or may alternate with a stretch of regular bowel manoeuvre. The causes are:

1. Neuropathy: Numbness or pain derived from nerve damage. High blood sugar levels can recompense your nerve fibers.
2. Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols: Devouring sweetener in diabetic foods proves to be a potent laxative. Sugar alcohol can leave you with stomach cramping, gas, and diarrhea.
3. Enteric Nervous System (ENS): An imbalance in ENS also causes diarrhea. ENS regulates the functions of the gastrointestinal system.
4. Bacterial overgrowth or yeast infection in the GI tract.
5. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.
6. Fecal incontinence resulting from anorectal dysfunction.
7. Celiac disease/ gluten intolerance is an autoimmune disease and starts attacking its own body when gluten is present. Intolerance to gluten is more likely an allergy and tested by a blood test. Symptoms may include headaches, bloat, gas, tiredness, diarrhea, depression, brain fog, skin issues, weight loss, or foul-smelling stool.
8. A requisite breakdown of sugars in the small intestine.
9. Pancreatic insufficiency.
10. Over the counter medicines like Metformin.
11. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is more common in the diabetes population.

Treatment for Diabetes Diarrhea

1. Note the frequency and severity of bowel movements and inform the doctor.
2. Enhance blood sugar is crucial.
3. Medical practitioner may prescribe Lomotil or Imodium to reduce or avert future bouts of diarrhea.
4. Change in eating habits including intake of high fiber diet.
5. Consumption of antibiotics if overgrowth of bacteria and antispasmodic medicines.
6. Reference to gastroenterologist.