Gastrointestinal Function in Diabetes Mellitus

Gastrointestinal function represents an important, and hitherto inappropriately neglected, aspect of diabetes management. Disordered gastrointestinal motor and sensory function occurs frequently in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and may be associated with gastrointestinal symptoms that adversely affect quality of life. During the last two decades, there has been a rapid expansion in knowledge in this area. It is now recognised that upper gastrointestinal motility is pivotal to the regulation of postprandial blood glucose concentrations in both health and patients with diabetes. This book is the first of its kind and was stimulated by the need to consolidate these recent advances, which dictate that a knowledge of gastroenterology as it relates to diabetes is now required of the clinician/diabetologist. It features an organ specific overview of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of disordered gastrointestinal (including hepatobiliary and pancreatic) function in diabetes mellitus. It contains guidelines for the clinician, diabetologist and gastroenterologist for both diagnosis and management. It includes a comprehensive description of the relation between gastrointestinal function, gastrointestinal hormones, autonomic nerve function and glycaemic control in animal models. It covers the development of new treatment options, particularly those targeted at the reduction of postprandial hyperglycaemia, to optimise glycaemic control. This book will be of interest to gastroenterologists, diabetologists, specialist nurses and clinical researchers.