Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms among persons with diabetes mellitus

Aim To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and signs among persons with diabetes mellitus in a specialist hospital. Background Gastrointestinal symptoms and signs are common among patients with diabetes mellitus. Morbidity from Patients and methods In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, subjects from the general population with diabetes (n=200) were recruited for this study. Subjects were randomly chosen from patients known to have diabetes, (type I&II), attending the diabetes clinic at Sina University Hospital, in Tabriz during 2003. The questionnaire recorded gastrointestinal symptoms among the subject population. Results 91% and 9% of patients had Type II and I diabetes, respectively. Sixty seven percent of them had poor controlled diabetes and only 3% had well controlled diabetes. Gastrointestinal symptoms and signs were reported in 92% of patients. The common GI symptoms were constipation (59.5%), followed by bloating (44%), abdominal pain (31%), dyspepsia (30%), and mass protruding through anus (22.5%). Abdominal tenderness on deep palpation was the commonest clinical sign (54%). GI symptoms were more prevalent in subjects aged 60-69 years (97.2%). Seventy four percent of patients with GI signs and symptoms had complications such as neuropathy 61.5% and retinopathy associated with neuropathy 38.5%. Conclusion The prevalence of GI symptoms and signs in the population studies was higher than that reported from other populations, and there is a relationship between glycaemic control and complications of diabetes in diabetic subjects.