To investigate the effect on
glycemic control of improving diabetic
gastroparesis, we evaluated symptoms (scored), gastric motor functions (solid and liquid gastric emptying studies and electrogastrography), and
glycemic control in 11 patients with diabetic
gastroparesis (5 men, 6 women, 50.4 +/- 4.5 years old) before and
after treatment with
cisapride (15 mg/day p.o., 12 weeks). None of the patients had organic abnormalities on gastrointestinal endoscopy. The dysmotility symptom score (maximum: 18) on
cisapride significantly improved from 13.1 to 4.0 (p < 0.01). Retention rates at 15 and 80 minutes after ingestion improved in a solid-food gastric emptying study using a test meal of instant noodles labeled with 37 MBq (1 mCi) technetium-99m (both p < 0.05). Liquid gastric emptying, evaluated using a
sulfamethizole technique, also improved but not significantly. Electrogastrography revealed no significant changes
after treatment, but the postprandial rate of normal frequency waves tended to increase.
Glycemic control was assessed based on HbA1C,
fructosamine and M value. There were no significant changes in
glycemic control after treatment with
cisapride. We conclude that long-term administration of
cisapride reduced dysmotility symptoms and improved solid and liquid gastric emptying without adversely affecting
glycemic control.