Question:
My daughter was diagnosed at 9 months, and is now 5 years old. Over the
last year, she has complained frequently of her stomach hurting. I often
attributed this to too much aspartame. The other night she told me that
during the day her stomach had felt like a stone. This concerned me
because we knew a young woman with diabetes who had a lot of trouble with
stomach distension and took medication to aid her digestion. Is my child
starting to suffer some classic complication of diabetes, or am I worrying
needlessly? Thanks.
Answer:
She might have a diabetes complication called autonomic neuropathy,
but probably not.
Usually, diabetes doesn't cause belly problems for many years after the
initial diagnosis.
Make sure you discuss this with your Primary Care Physician, and diabetes
doctor, and if either of them are unsure, they'll advise referral to someone
who deals with belly problems (a gastroenterologist).
Original posting 18 Feb 96