View or Print All Sections Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder that slows or stops the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, even though there is no blockage in the stomach or intestines.
The symptoms of gastroparesis may include feeling full shortly after starting a meal, feeling full long after eating a meal, nausea, and vomiting. Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis.
Doctors diagnose gastroparesis based on your medical history, a physical exam, symptoms, and medical tests, such as tests to measure stomach emptying. Your doctor may use medical tests to look for gastroparesis complications.
How doctors treat gastroparesis depends on the cause, how bad your symptoms and complications are, and how well you respond to different treatments. If diabetes is causing your gastroparesis, your doctor will help you control your blood glucose levels.
What you eat can help relieve gastroparesis symptoms. What you eat can also help make sure you get the right amount of nutrients, calories, and liquids if you are malnourished or dehydrated due to gastroparesis.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.
Related Conditions & Diseases
Last Reviewed January 2018
This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
The NIDDK would like to thank:
Michael Camilleri, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Rochester
FAQs
Eat small meals more often.
Try to space your meals out. Eat 4-6 times a day. Your stomach may swell less and empty faster if you don't put too much in it. A small meal is about 1 to 1½ cups of food.
What is the number one cause of gastroparesis? ›
Diabetes is the most common single cause of gastroparesis. Around one-third of cases are diagnosed as diabetes-related.
Is it hard to poop with gastroparesis? ›
Severe/very severe constipation and delayed colon transit occurs in one third of patients with symptoms of gastroparesis.
What organ does gastroparesis affect? ›
Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the normal spontaneous movement of the muscles (motility) in your stomach.
Does drinking more water help gastroparesis? ›
Drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
Dehydration can increase symptoms of nausea. Sip liquids steadily throughout the day; don't gulp.
Can I eat salad with gastroparesis? ›
Fiber is hard work for the stomach and takes longer to empty. Examples of high fiber foods: whole grains, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, nuts and seeds, legumes, beans, corn, raw vegetables, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, fruit skin and seeds, oranges, pineapple, dried fruit, coconuts. Avoid large salads.
What is the new hope for gastroparesis? ›
Innovative treatment in our Borderplex
The first is the use of a gastric stimulator that creates small electrical currents to signal the brain to reduce nausea. The other procedure is pyloroplasty, surgery that widens the lower part of the stomach so it can empty into the small intestine.
How long does it take for gastroparesis to get better? ›
What is the long-term outlook for gastroparesis? Most patients who develop gastroparesis after an infection improve by six months, though some continue to experience symptoms.
Does Miralax help gastroparesis? ›
You need medications to increase the motility of your gi tract. Miralax will help draw fluid into your colon but won't speed it up.
What can be mistaken for gastroparesis? ›
Gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia are 2 of the most common gastric neuromuscular disorders. These disorders are usually confused, having both similarities and differences.
If your doctor diagnosed an underlying disease or condition that is causing the gastroparesis, the treatment will focus on correcting or reversing that condition; if there is no underlying cause or if it is not possible to treat it, then the goal of treatment is to promote gastric emptying and relieve your symptoms.
Can you live a long life with gastroparesis? ›
For some people, gastroparesis affects the quality of their life, but is not life-threatening. They might be unable to complete certain activities or work during flare-ups. Others, however, face potentially deadly complications.
What is considered a small meal for gastroparesis? ›
A gastroparesis meal is one that is small (1 to 1 ½ cups of food), almost like a snack, and is low in fat and fiber. It is easy to rely too much on nutrient poor foods such as white breads, pastas, crackers, chips, and sweets when fiber is lowered.
What foods increase gastric emptying? ›
What to eat and drink
- soft fruits, such as bananas.
- canteloupe or honeydew melon.
- skinless canned fruits, including pears and peaches.
- fruit purees.
- vegetable juices, such as carrot juice.
- well-cooked and peeled potatoes.
- well-cooked green leaves, such as spinach.
- well-cooked broccoli tops without the stems.
You may not feel hungry and may constantly feel that your stomach is full even when you've eaten very little. You may feel uncomfortably full after eating only a small amount of food.
What is a good breakfast for someone with gastroparesis? ›
Phase 3 – Sample menu for people with gastroparesis
| Breakfast | Lunch |
|---|
| 1 slice white toast with 1 tbsp seedless jelly 2 eggs scrambled 4 oz juice 6 oz fat-free Greek yogurt 8 oz coffee or tea | 3oz canned tuna (packed in water) 2 tbsp light mayonnaise 2 slices white bread ½ cup canned fruit (in juice) 4 oz skim milk |
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