Diabetes and Constipation or Diarrhea

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal problem for people who have diabetes. Diarrhea that occurs at night and delayed stomach-emptying after a meal (gastroparesis) are also common. The nerves of the intestines control how long solid food waste remains in the intestines. If these nerves have been damaged by high blood sugar levels, food and waste products may move through the intestines too slowly, causing constipation, or too quickly, causing diarrhea. Damage to the intestinal nerves usually does not occur unless you have had type 1 diabetes that requires treatment with insulin for many years.

If you have diabetes, discuss any problems that you are having with constipation, diarrhea, or gastroparesis with your doctor. These conditions can be treated with medicine and by changing your eating habits.