Dysfunction of the lower gastrointestinal tract as a complication of diabetes — a problematic issue in the diabetic care

The purpose of this article is to familiarize the reader with abnormalities concerning the lower gastrointestinal tract in patients with diabetes and to present the latest views related to their pathogenesis and possibilities of treatment as well as subjects of future research. Gastrointestinal disorders as a complication of diabetes are common. Disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract are diagnosed most often; lower gastrointestinal tract symptoms are equally frequent, but, due to their embarrassing nature, patients are less likely to report them. They are based on complex mechanisms, not only autonomic neuropathy, as was believed for years. Treatment is complex, much like pathogenesis. Currently there is no effective treatment and it is mostly empirical. Discovering new mechanisms of the disease opens the opportunity for further research whose aim is to develop new therapeutic options