Diabetic enteropathy discovery raises hopes of treatment

[Northerner]

Gastrointestinal problems experienced by type 1 diabetes patients could be treated with an experimental drug that inhibits insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3.

Patients with type 1 diabetes commonly experience gastrointestinal symptoms, which can be severe. However, the underlying mechanism of disease, known as diabetic enteropathy, is unknown.

New research, published in Cell Stem Cell (2015;17:486–498)[1], found that patients with type 1 diabetes and diabetic enteropathy have high levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), which is antiproliferative and promotes stem cell death in the intestinal lining, damaging its structure.

http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.c...ry-raises-hopes-of-treatment/20069501.article

 

[Worcester_Matt]

That's interesting. I have terrible gastric problems and have been simoultaneously been diagnosed with T1 diabetes. I wonder if the specialist I'm seeing in December will put two and two together?

 

[khskel]

I wonder if the specialist I'm seeing in December will put two and two together?

From personal experience I would say probably not.

 

[trophywench]

First time I've ever heard of 'diabetic enteropathy' and as I've never had gastro problems, I can therefore only assume that I cannot be 'common'.

This is brilliant news and my mother will be pleased - she lived in horror of 'common' people and we were resoundingly banned from mixing with any whilst growing up. (Don't let me see you speaking to HER, we were both told. In no uncertain terms. And she never did.)

Is it really common? Hands up, all those on here who have it?

 

[trophywench]

I've just Googled it, only American websites, nothing on the NHS website. It isn't what we call gastroparesis is it?

 

[Worcester_Matt]

I think it's something different, although you're right, the information is hard to come by and appears to be very US centric. I have certainly heard that there is a link between diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the doctors did mention once that they thought my digestive problems may be due to my diabetes. But as with all doctors, they mention something in passing and drop it again so you never know what to think.

 

[AlisonM]

Gastro Enteropathy is what they diagnosed me with almost a year ago and said it was a direct result of my diabetes - whether that is the same thing though, I'm not sure. If it is, I hope this research does come up with a cure, because this plumbing problem is truly horrible and I can never tell from one day to the next what's going to happen. It really gets me down.

 

[Northerner]

I believe gastroparesis is a form of neuropathy of the digestive system, affecting the vagus nerve, which sounds very different to this.

 

[trophywench]

That's what I thought too Alan.

I am yet to be convinced that this enteropathy is more 'common' for diabetics than Muggles.

 

[Northerner]

That's what I thought too Alan.

I am yet to be convinced that this enteropathy is more 'common' for diabetics than Muggles.

It's certainly not a term I have encountered before on here in nearly 7 years. Doesn't it sound similar to Coeliac?

 

[AlisonM]

It's certainly not a term I have encountered before on here in nearly 7 years. Doesn't it sound similar to Coeliac?

I was tested for Coeliac as well as several other plumbing problems, but my issue isn't a reaction to food (gluten for instance as in Coeliac) though it can be made worse by some things. It's mainly the process of peristalsis in the small and large intestine that is affected in me, it's very weak which means the digestive process is slowed down dramatically after matter leaves my stomach - there is also a lack of sensation apparently caused by nerve damage to this area. Together these are the primary causes of the other distressing plumbing symptoms I suffer and won't go into here. Sadly, the Fybogel I've been prescribed hasn't made much of a difference to all this, I still get regular sudden upsets.