What are the complications of gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis can make diabetes worse by adding to the difficulty of controlling blood glucose. When food that has been delayed in the stomach finally enters the small intestine and is absorbed, blood glucose levels rise. Since gastroparesis makes stomach emptying unpredictable, a person’s blood glucose levels can be erratic and difficult to control. If food lingers too long in the stomach, it can cause uncommon problems like bacterial over-growth from the fermentation of food. Also, the food can harden into solid masses called bezoars that may cause nausea, vomiting, and physical obstruction in the stomach. Bezoars are rare but can be dangerous in severe cases if they block the passage of food into the small intestine.
