Tests for diabetic gastroparesis
The following tests are done to confirm the diagnosis of diabetic gastroparesis:
Barium X-ray
Your doctor may begin with a barium X-ray to check for gastroparesis. For a barium X-ray, the patient will last for 12 hours, drink fluid containing barium and then have an abdominal X-ray. This barium will coat the stomach to make it visible on X-ray.
In most cases, someone who has fasted before this test has an empty stomach. However, some people with gastroparesis may still have some food in their stomachs.
Barium beefsteak test
The barium beefsteak test involves someone eating food that has barium and then doing imaging tests while the food degrades. Your doctor will watch the stomach through imaging to see how long it takes for food to leave.
Radioscope gastric-emptying scan
Just like the barium beefsteak test, the radioisotope gastric-emptying scan involves someone eating food that has a radioactive compound before they have an imaging test.
Gastric manometry
A gastric manometry is used to know the activity of the muscles in the stomach. During a gastric manometry, your doctor will place a narrow tube through your throat into the stomach. The tube includes a device that monitors the stomach’s activity as it digests food.