Understanding How Diabetes Can Affect Your Digestion

Nausea and vomiting are two unpleasant feelings that most everyone has encountered at some point in their life, but for many diabetics, these are symptoms that they live with every day as a result of a condition known as diabetic gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is a known complication of both the type 1 and type 2 forms of diabetes.  It occurs because high blood glucose levels associated with diabetes often leads to nerve damage throughout the body.  One such nerve is the vagus nerve. It controls the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. When it is damaged, food cannot move as quickly through the digestive system because the stomach muscles aren’t working well or stop working completely.  When undigested food remains in the stomach for too long it can lead to a variety of problems such as bacterial overgrowth and the build-up of hardened, solid masses.

It is estimated at as many as 50% of all people living with diabetes develop some level of gastroparesis during their lifetime, but symptoms can vary greatly from person to person.

The most common symptoms associated with diabetic gastroparesis include:

  • Nausea after eating
  • Vomiting after eating
  • Fullness after eating small amount of food
  • Bloating
  • Pain in the upper section of your stomach
  • Lack of appetite
  • Heartburn
  • Unexplained weight loss

Diabetic gastroparesis can affect lead to many complications including dehydration and malnutrition. It can also make it hard for someone with diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels as well as maintain a healthy weight.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for gastroparesis, but there are some medications that have shown temporary relief. There are also some alternative food delivery methods available, such as feeding tubes and IV nutritional therapy for those with severe symptoms.

The best way to reduce the symptoms of diabetic gastroparesis involves adjusting your lifestyle through:

  • Maintaining a low fat / low fiber diet
  • Drinking plenty of water
  • Reducing stress levels
  • Quitting smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol and carbonated beverages
  • Eating small meals and chewing your food slowly
  • Taking walks after meals

It is also recommended that you talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking as they can also worsen gastroparesis symptoms.

If you would like to make an appointment with a diabetes specialist at Flushing Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Center, please call 718-670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Flushing Hospital’s Division of Robotic Surgery Performs Minimally Invasive Colectomy Procedures

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A colectomy, also known as a bowel resection, is a surgical procedure where a part of or the entire colon is removed.

The colon is part of the body’s digestive system, which removes and processes nutrients from foods and helps pass waste material out of the body. A colectomy may be required when the colon fails to function as it should.

This may occur for a variety of issues or conditions including:

  • Bowel obstruction – A blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through your small or large intestine.
  • Bowel perforation – A hole in the wall of the small or large intestine. This is a serious and potentially fatal condition that may require immediate surgery.
  • Crohn’s disease – An inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of your digestive tract, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition.
  • Ulcerative colitis – A condition that causes irritation and swelling of the small intestine that can lead to the development of sores called ulcers.
  • Colon cancer – A type of cancer where tiny growths called polyps develop in the colon or rectum over time and eventually become cancerous.

Depending on the issue and the severity, there are a number of different types of colectomy procedures, such as:

  • Total colectomy–The removal of the entire colon
  • Partial colectomy (or subtotal colectomy) – The removal of part of the colon
  • Hemicolectomy- The removal of the right or left portion of the colon
  • Proctocolectomy– The removal of both the colon and rectum

Traditionally, patients with any of these conditions needing a colectomy would have open surgery. These procedures require doctors to make a long incision in the wall of the abdomen so they can see the colon directly.

Thankfully, Flushing Hospital offers patients a much more minimally invasive option. Through the acquisition of the da Vinci surgical platform, patients can now have colectomy procedures performed robotically.

During robot-assisted procedures, Flushing Hospital’s expert team of surgeons can guide the state-of-the-art da Vinci robot to make the smallest of incisions, resulting in less pain, minimal scarring, and faster recovery time.

If you are experiencing any form of irritable bowel disease that may require surgical intervention, please call Flushing Hospital’s Division of Robotic Surgery at 718-670- 3135 to learn how we can help.

 

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

How Important is “Gut Health” to Your Overall Well Being?

Once thought to be a relatively simple bodily system, we are now learning more and more about our digestive system and the major impact it has on our overall health.

Links are now being made between our digestive health and our immune system, mental health, endocrine system, skin diseases and even certain cancers. As a result, doctors are now stressing their patients to practice good “gut health,” which involves taking certain measures to protect and maintain proper functioning of our digestive system.

There are many ways an unhealthy gut can reveal itself. Obvious symptoms such as an upset stomach, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or heartburn can all be signs of an unhealthy gut.

Poor gut health can affect the functioning of the autoimmune system, leading to the body attacking itself. It can also be the reason for the development of certain food intolerances due to poor quality of bacteria in the stomach. Unintentional weight changes, skin conditions such as eczema, and sleep disturbances such as insomnia and fatigue can all also be linked to poor gut health.

There are several things that a person can do to improve their overall gut health, including:

  • Lower Stress Levels – Some ways to do this involve practicing meditation or yoga, taking a relaxing walk, or receiving a massage.
  • Get Enough Sleep – Try to prioritize getting at least 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.
  • Eat Slowly – Chewing your food thoroughly and eating more slowly can help promote full digestion and absorption of nutrients
  • Stay Hydrated – Drinking plenty of water has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the lining of the intestines, as well as on the balance of good bacteria in the gut
  • Take a prebiotic or probiotic – Prebiotics provide “food” meant to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while probiotics are live, good bacteria
  • Check for Food Intolerances – . By eliminating certain common food triggers you may be able to identify a food or foods that are contributing to your symptoms.

By concentrating on your gut health, you will not only improve the functioning of your digestive system, but you can also experience many other benefits to your overall health.

If you are experiencing problems that might be due to poor gut health, please speak to your physician. To make an appointment at Flushing Hospital, please call 718- 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.