Diabetic Gastroparesis

An estimated 23.6 million Americans suffer from some type of diabetes, and 1.6 million more adults will be diagnosed with the disease each year. Diabetes comes in several forms, with they main ones being type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. While this illness is characterized by problems with blood sugar levels and insulin, it can also cause a condition called diabetic gastroparesis.

Diabetic gastroparesis most often hits those who have had type 1 diabetes for at least ten years. It describes a problem in which the stomach does not digest food and drain properly. It can occur because long-term diabetes can eventually cause nerve damage due to the imbalance of nutrients supplied by the blood.

The stomach is controlled by a nerve called the vagus. If it sustains damage due to diabetes, it cannot regulate the stomach properly and cause the muscle contractions necessary to process food. Thus, it can be left in the stomach, where it can spoil and cause bacterial infections. Additionally, it can harden into a lump called a bezoar that can lodge in the intestines.

When food builds up in the stomach, it can cause heartburn. If it becomes bad enough, doctors may prescribe drugs to help treat the acid reflux. However, some drugs can be more harmful than beneficial. The acid reflux medication Reglan is one such drug.

Doctors often prescribed Reglan to help people with chronic acid reflux that did not respond to other medications. Sadly, though, Reglan has been linked with terrible disorders that can be permanent, such as tardive dyskinesia.

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If you or someone you love has suffered from serious side effects due to Reglan, you should speak to a lawyer about your rights for recompense. For more information on this drug and its associated problems, contact the Reglan attorneys of Williams Kherkher today at 800-761-3187.