What Causes Chronic Nausea And Vomiting When Suffering From Type Two Diabetes?

Posted on Sat, 14 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 13 Jun 2014 Answered on

Thu, 3 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi I have been throwing up for more than nine months, not pregnant. I sometimes have periods but very irregular. I have type two diabetes kept it from gestational 7 years ago. I was 129 lbs after baby was born 7 years ago but was not on bipolar medication and now I am, and weigh 180. Had pancreatitis 2012 in hospital three weeks. I eat fairly well but triglycerides are still too high and blood sugars run 160. Saw endocrinologist this week really trying to get those two under control. Had the scope down throat nothing, and the test were they make you eat eggs with chemical and slowly watch digest also nothing they are now saying it is just stress but I throw up dry heave or am nausea even when I am happy or just relaxing it is very frustrating and they just keep giving me medicine that does't work.
What do you think and yes I see a therapist for the bipolar and take all regular medications as prescribed nothing illegal.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (-1 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need gastroenterologic facility for some work up

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking!
Chronic nausea and vomiting are not uncommon in the general population and a careful history and examination are required to eliminate common medical causes. Small bowel bacterial overgrowth, gastric bile reflux or acid reflux are frequent benign causes of nausea, vomiting and retching after cancer treatment.Metabolic causes such as hyperglycaemia, hypercalcaemia, renal impairment, and Addison's disease need to be excluded. Gastroparesis and slow upper GI transit can exacerbate symptoms. Oesophageal motility disorders
weight changes need to be taken care of with diet and lifestyle modifications and exercise.
I believe your diabetes and its result of gastroparesis is the cause of it. Bipolar meds can also cause nausea.
Get to a gastroenterologist and let them do some work up and digging to sort out the cause. Motility, manometry and PH monitoring etc will help understand better. vestibular functions need to be assessed too.followed by hormonal assessment for addisons etc will be needed.Renal functions assessment and complete electrolytes monitoring is advised.
Follow ADA diet for diabetes and keep close eye on glucose levels. Lose weight or your troubles will increase and pancreatic infection will just be the start leading to many more troubles you don't wanna have.
Get a gastroenterologist and see what comes up.
I hope it helps.Take good care and dont forget to close the discusison please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
S Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar