Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

A 48-year-old female with a long history of diabetes and gastrointestinal symptoms may most likely have which diagnosis?

1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

2. Gastroparesis

3. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

4. Gastrointestinal virus

The correct answer is: Gastroparesis

The most likely diagnosis for a 48-year-old female with a long history of diabetes and gastrointestinal symptoms is gastroparesis. This condition is characterized by delayed gastric emptying, which can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. Patients with diabetes, especially those with poorly controlled blood sugar levels, are at a higher risk of developing gastroparesis due to the impact of high glucose levels on the autonomic nervous system, which controls the stomach's ability to push food through the digestive tract. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can also present with gastrointestinal symptoms, but they are not as closely associated with diabetes as gastroparesis. IBS often involves a broader range of symptoms related to bowel habits, while GERD primarily affects the esophagus and causes heartburn and regurgitation. A gastrointestinal virus may cause acute symptoms but is unlikely to be a chronic issue related to the patient's long-standing history of diabetes. Thus, given the context of diabetes and persistent gastrointestinal issues, gastroparesis is the most logical diagnosis.