Bacterial overgrowth in the upper gastrointestinal tract in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted on 70 diabetics [36 males and 34 females] and 10 healthy subjects [9 males and 1 female] as a control group. All were complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms. Abdominal sonography was done. Gastric and duodenal lavage, and gastric biopsies were taken and were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and Helicobacter pylori 70% of diabetics were positive for bacterial overgrowth while only 10% of controls were positive. Significantly higher incidence of bacterial overgrowth was detected in uncontrolled diabetics especially those with abnormal endoscopic findings and those with autonomic neuropathy and in diabetic females. Bacterial overgrowth was not correlated with the age, the duration of diabetes or the type of gastrointestinal symptoms. The most frequent organisms were enterococci [48%], helicobacter pylori [42%] and candida [40%]