Chronic Indigestion symptoms. Related to diabetes?

I'm a 23yr.old, Type 1 diabetic female suffering from stomach problems. I have the following symptoms: bloating, burning feeling on upper stomach, nausea, urge to vomit (doesn't happen though) gas, growling stomach. My bowels are normal. I first had these symptoms 1mth after I was diagnosed with diabetes (Oct2001) and continued to have them for 6mths after until they suddenly went away for no apparent reason. I had done x-rays and bloodtests and results came back normal. I also took Prevacid and NExium and those didn't help much.
The symptoms have come back after 5 years. They came back this past March. It's interfering with my life. I've seen my family doctor about it and she prescribed Pantoloc, which doesn't help much, and I've done a blood test to check for H.pylori but it's already been a week so I'm assuming the results came back normal.
I don't wake up in the middle of the night with pain or gas. It only occurs during the day and seems that the pain gets worse around dinner time, esp. after dinner. Passing gas makes me feel better temporarily as well as drinking warm water. I eat pieces of bread because it seems to neutralize the acid in my stomach by reducing the growling and the burning feeling. I have no sharp pains and it's the burning and the urge to vomit that bother me. I have a feeling my diabetes may have contributed to these stomach problems because I didn't have any of these symptoms before diabetes. What do you think think this could be?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Diabetes is associated with gastroparesis - or delayed gastric emptying.  This condition may lead to some of the symptoms you describe.  

You can consider a gastric emptying scan if this is suspected.  I would also consider an upper endoscopy or upper GI series to rule out an ulcer or inflammation in the upper digestive tract.  

More specialized tests like a 24-hr pH study or esophageal motility study can be considered if the tests remain non-revealing.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
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