Skip to main content

Providing a unified voice to promote and enhance the quality of rural health in North Dakota

An Unwelcome Check Engine Light: Understanding Gastroparesis and Diabetes

by King

December 2024

With winter in full gear, travel in rural North Dakota requires a reliable vehicle. The driver needs to learn if the engine is running smoothly. Are all the electronics working and working together? Because the human body is a bit like a motor vehicle, imagining that the brain works like a vehicle's computer allows a way to understand how the body's systems work.

One system that might be of interest is the autonomic nervous system (ANS). With this system, the brain controls things a person never needs to think about, like keeping a normal blood pressure, breathing in and out, and digesting food. Looking at it like a car mechanic, the brain is the car's electronic computer and the ANS one of the electronic programs in that computer.

Looking further at the ANS reveals it has two main computer programs: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Looking even deeper into these systems, the SNS acts like the gas pedal in a car, revving things up. It increases heart rate, directs blood to muscles, and gives us a burst of energy for "fight or flight" moments. The PNS, on the other hand, acts like brakes. It slows down the heart and allows the body to relax during "rest and digest" times.

Just as a car's "check engine" light signals an issue, when symptoms like vomiting or bloating occur, the ANS system has a "check engine" signal that alerts the brain that something's not working. Gastroparesis, one rare complication of diabetes, triggers that check engine light because the PNS isn't functioning properly.

How many people might develop gastroparesis in Ramsey and Benson counties? Sorting through available county-level reports, an estimate of about 60 of the 2,000 diabetics in the two counties might develop gastroparesis.

Those people might first notice their PNS isn't working because it has stopped resting and digesting. They'll notice food seems to stay in their stomachs making them feel full after eating very little food, to have nausea and vomiting, or to have belly pain.

Although there isn't a cure for gastroparesis, it can be managed. Just like a vehicle might need to be taken to the mechanic several times to get all the systems working, gastroparesis management is similar. Regular doctor visits will be needed at the start of treatment and follow-up visits for the small changes that might make a big difference over time.

Diet changes come first, like eating smaller amounts of food more often. Avoiding high fat and high-fiber foods might help because they're harder to digest. Examples of these are fried foods and raw vegetables. Limiting processed snacks and sugary drinks is also helpful. Simple activities like a daily 30-minute walk can stimulate digestion and improve symptoms.

Besides diet and exercises changes, there are some available medications doctors can offer that can help digestion and reduce nausea. In severe cases, a device called a gastric stimulator may be surgically placed to help the stomach work better.

Just like a well-maintained vehicle has every system working to safely navigate snowy roads, a balanced lifestyle is key to managing conditions like gastroparesis. By partnering with the doctor, making dietary and exercise changes, and following treatment plans, individuals can ensure their "engine" runs as smoothly as possible. Keep the "check engine" light off with regular care and attention – it's a journey toward better health.

About the Author

King is a 3rd year medical student at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. They were selected as the Devils Lake participant for the school's ROME program, or Rural Opportunities in Medical Education. The program teaches student doctors how rural newspapers can be partners for disseminating health information. As a future rural healthcare leader, King has written this column to provide health information for their ROME community. The information presented here is not intended for diagnosis or treatment and should not be used in place of previous medical advice provided by a licensed provider.