Digestive problems may be an early sign of advanced type 2 diabetes, researchers have found

Digestive problems may be an early sign of advanced type 2 diabetes, researchers have found.

The discovery could change the way we diagnose and treat diabetes, as gastrointestinal symptoms are often overlooked or treated as a separate condition.

According to new data published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, people with type 2 diabetes are significantly more likely to experience functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, constipation and diarrhea. The scientists emphasize that these symptoms are not random, but are associated with metabolic disorders characteristic of diabetes.

In a large study that included more than 400,000 people, researchers compared the indicators of people with and without diabetes. It turned out that functional gastrointestinal disorders occurred 50% more often in patients with diabetes. In particular, functional constipation and diarrhea were the most common, as well as dyspepsia - chronic indigestion.

Experts call the cause of this connection damage to nerve endings and muscles in the digestive tract, which occur as a result of prolonged elevated blood glucose levels. This phenomenon is known as diabetic neuropathy, and it can affect not only the extremities, but also the functioning of internal organs, including the stomach and intestines.

Researchers note that most patients do not associate digestive problems with diabetes, and therefore do not consult an endocrinologist in time. This complicates early diagnosis and delays the start of effective therapy. Doctors urge patients who have persistent or recurring gastrointestinal symptoms to undergo examination for impaired glucose metabolism.

Therefore, doctors advise not to ignore even seemingly minor digestive symptoms. Their presence, combined with other risk factors — such as being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, or having a genetic predisposition — can be a warning sign for type 2 diabetes.