Gastric vs Jejunal Feeding in Diabetic Gastroparesis

Diabetic 'Gastroparesis' or 'Gastroenteropathy' is a condition in which patients suffer episodes of nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and pain after eating. These symptoms occur in the absence of any structural abnormality of the stomach, rather abnormal gastric function underlies the condition. Up to one in five patients with type I diabetes experience symptoms consistent with this diagnosis. The effects on diabetic control, physical health and emotional quality of life are severe. Patients do not respond reliably to general supportive management or conventional medications. Surgical options have disappointing results. The need for more effective treatment is acknowledged universally.

Feeding into the small bowel beyond the stomach (jejunal feeding) is established management in diabetic patients with gastroenteropathy that are malnourished due to poor oral intake. The benefits have been assumed secondary to improved nutrition and diabetic control; however this assertion has never been studied. Recently we observed that patients with severe gastroenteropathy recovered promptly and could eat normally during and for a few hours after jejunal feeding. These observations suggest that jejunal feeding has 'quasi-pharmacological' effects in patients with gastroenteropathy. One attractive explanation for these observations is that gastroenteropathy represents a failure of oral intake to 'switch' the stomach from the fasted to the fed state. According to this hypothesis, jejunal feeding 'restores' the normal fed state by bypassing the dysfunctional stomach.

This project will assess the effects of feeding on gastrointestinal (GI) sensory and motor function in diabetic gastroenteropathy. Healthy volunteers and diabetic controls without symptoms will also be investigated. Studies will assess:

1. Effects on GI symptoms and function to gastric distension in fasted and fed states
2. Effects on GI symptoms and function to oral vs. nasogastric delivery of a test meal
3. A trial of gastric feeding with and without prior jejunal feeding on GI symptoms and function Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques will be applied to assess complex gastric response to feeding. In addition the effects of feeding on symptoms and gastric function will be related to alterations in GI hormones and autonomic nervous activity (eg cardiovagal tone) to assess how the integrated response of the GI tract to feeding fails in patients with diabetic gastroenteropathy.

The primary aim of this project is to assess the effectiveness of jejunal feeding in the management of diabetic gastroenteropathy. However, by defining the processes that 'switch' gastric function between the fasted and the fed states and control gastric emptying, we hope also to identify candidate targets for more effective pharmacologic treatment of this severe disease.

* Trial with medical device


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion criteria: • Type 1 diabetes mellitus, confirmed by history of persistent insulin treatment from 12 months' or less after diagnosis, and fasting C peptide concentration of \<0.16nmol/L.74

* At least moderate symptoms of gastroenteropathy (GCSI \>27)
* Delayed gastric emptying on breath test performed at screening (if no results available)

Disease control

* Type 1 diabetes mellitus, confirmed by history of persistent insulin treatment from 12 months' or less after diagnosis, and fasting C peptide concentration of \<0.16nmol/L.74
* Not more than mild symptoms of gastroenteropathy / dyspepsia (GCSI \<14).
* Normal gastric emptying on breath test performed at screening (if no results available)

Normal control

* Healthy volunteers recruited by advertisement.
* Not more than mild symptoms of gastroenteropathy / dyspepsia (GCSI \<14).
* Normal gastric emptying on breath test performed at screening (if no results available)

General inclusion criteria

* Aged at least 18 and not more than 55 years.
* Body Mass Index: 19-27 kg/m2
* Ability to communicate with the investigator and comply with requirements for entire study.
* Ability to provide written, informed consent

Exclusion criteria: General exclusion criteria

* Gross retention of gastric contents (e.g. bezoar) or evidence of peptic ulcer disease or significant pathology (other than reflux oesophagitis) on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
* History of gastro-intestinal surgery (except appendicectomy and hernia repair).
* History of abdominal radiotherapy or malignancy
* Mental impairment or psychological disease limiting ability to comply with study requirements
* Progressive or unstable co-morbid condition requiring treatment or precluding safe endoscopic placement of naso-jejunal feeding tube.
* Patients at risk of pregnancy without effective contraception
* Evidence or history of drug or alcohol abuse within two years.
* Unable or unwilling to stop medications influencing upper GI motility