Gastric emptying in insulin treated diabetics, a new equation for insulin meal interval

ABSTRACT

Gastric emptying time was studied in 25 insulin-treated diabetics, compared with 12 matched healthy volunteers. Both liquid and solid meals labeled by technetium sulfur-colloid [99m Tc] as the isotopic marker were used. The results showed delayed gastric emptying time in the diabetic group for liquid [0 45 +/- 14 min.] and solids [1 20 +/- 38 min.] compared with [0 31 +/- 10 and 0 49 +/- 0 15 min.] in the control group [P = 0.04 and 0.008, respectively]. The delay in the diabetic group was apparent in males, older age and with longer duration of diabetes, and also in those who had gastrointestinal symptoms, peripheral or autonomic neuropathy. Adjusting the time of insulin injection in relation to the times of meals according to the solid-lag time by applying the equation [the onset of insulin action-solid lag time] caused significant reduction in fasting and post-prandial blood glucose level resulting in a better glycemic control