ABSTRACT
Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complication in diabetic patients. Erythromycin mimics the effects of the gastrointestinal hormone Motilin in gastric contractile activity and insulin secretion. In this study, we compared the effects of Erythromycin and Metoclopramide on glycemic control and constipation in type 2 diabetic patients. As a clinical trial, thirty-nine type 2 diabetic patients with constipation were divided into two groups. Patients in group 1 [n=24] were treated with erythromycin [400 mg/day before sleep] and participants in the second group [n=15] received metoclopramide [10mg 3 times / day before each meal] for 3 months. FBS, 2hPP BS, HbA1c and the frequency of defecations during a week were measured and compared before and after the intervention. In Erythromycin treated group, 2hPP BS decreased from 199.7 +/- 47.0 before treatment to 174.0 +/- 46.3 after intervention [P=0.01] and a significant improvement in constipational symptoms was observed in both groups. It seems that Erythromycin not only can improve symptoms of constipation but may have a role in glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients