Treatment Options For Gastroparesis

Other Underlying Condition Treatment

Sometimes, gastroparesis presents without an underlying condition that doctors can find. In these cases, it's called idiopathic gastroparesis. The most common cause of the condition is diabetes, a disease that causes the body to be unable to process glucose properly. Untreated diabetes can lead to nerve damage. There are important nerves in the stomach called the vagus nerve and associated special cells. These control the movement of stomach muscles and overall digestive process.

If diabetes damages the vagus nerve, it won't be able to function fully, which leads to delays in digestion. Other potential underlying causes of gastroparesis are hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases like scleroderma, nervous system disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, viral infections in the stomach, and injuries to the vagus nerve related to digestive system surgery.