OBJECTIVE To estimate the rate of gastric emptying of a solid pancake carbohydrate meal in recently diagnosed asymptomatic type II diabetic patients compared with nondiabetic control subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Gastric emptying studies using radiolabeled meals were performed on eight recently diagnosed asymptomatic diabetic patients and on eight sex-, BMI- and age-matched nondiabetic control subjects. Although a liquid protein drink was administered along with the pancake meal, the radioactivity was adherent to only the pancake portion of the meal. Plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were measured in fasting and postprandial blood samples collected at 15-min intervals up to 120 min after ingestion of the mixed nutrient meal.

RESULTS The average gastric half-emptying time (time it takes for one-half of the meal to empty) was significantly more rapid for the diabetic patients (45.3 ± 4.8 min) when compared with the nondiabetic control subjects (60.4 ± 5.1 min; P = 0.05). The serum insulin concentrations were not statistically different between the two groups. Plasma glucose values were significantly higher in the diabetic patients compared with the nondiabetic control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS Type II diabetic patients with no clinical evidence of neuronal dysfunction have a significantly more rapid rate of gastric emptying of a solid high-carbohydrate meal when compared with nondiabetic control subjects.