SHORT PAPERS Metoclopramide to Treat Gastroparesis due to Diabetes Mellitus

Ten patients with diabetic gastroparesis were selected for a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of metoclopramide. Each patient had longstanding insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus and symptoms of gastric stasis. The patients were evaluated for the symptoms of gastric stasis and radionucleotide gastric emptying was measured before the patients entered the study and after they were given either metoclopramide or placebo treatment. Metoclopramide, 10 mg orally, stimulated an increase in the rate of gastric emptying (56.8 % + 7.4%) in contrast to the response to placebo (37.6 % ± 7.7%) (p < 0.01). The overall symptoms and symptoms of vomiting were markedly reduced during metoclopramide treatment in contrast to those during placebo treatment. Before the study five patients were constipated (less tha