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The Autonomic Nervous System

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The human body is comprised of complex systems, many of which occur automatically or without conscious thought. These involuntary systems allow for maintenance of heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, excretion, thermoregulation, visual accommodation, and procreation. Automatic or involuntary processes occur due to the actions of organs, hormones from the endocrine system, and neuron communication from the nervous system. The portion of the nervous system that regulates these involuntary processes is aptly called the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is composed of afferent and efferent neurons that work to communicate messages to and from the brain and spinal cord, also known as the central nervous system (CNS). The …show more content…
AN of the GI system frequently goes undetected. It can involve any organ involved in digestion including the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, and intestines. Common symptoms include early satiety, nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation. The primary mechanism of AN in the upper and lower GI system is multifactorial and can include abnormalities in motor function, visceral hypersensitivity, altered secretion of GI hormones, inflammation, and genetics. Both acute and chronic hyperglycemia can exacerbate each of these mechanisms. When hyperglycemia becomes chronic, interstitial Cajal cells, which regulate gastric pacing, become damaged resulting in impaired gastric motility. The impaired gastric motility may ultimately lead to gastroparesis. The prevalence of GI AN in people with diabetes may be as high as 75% and women of child bearing age appear most susceptible. The rationale for this is unclear, but may be due to gender differences in neuronal nitric oxide. Those with type 1 diabetes also appear to be at greater risk for GI AN, although it impacts people with either type 1 or type 2. The rationale for the higher risk in type 1 diabetes is unclear and while it is speculated the longer disease duration of type 1 …show more content…
A condition known as neurogenic bladder may develop as a consequence of impaired afferent fibers. The result is diminished bladder sensation which, for people with diabetes, may mask the polyuria that otherwise occurs as a result of hyperglycemia. Bladder volume can then expand to three times the normal volume resulting in urinary stasis. The urinary stasis then in turn puts the patient at greater risk for urinary tract infections. The infection itself can then lead to hyperglycemia, which increases urinary volume and allows the cycle of dysfunction to further continue. Sudomoter dysfunction refers to disturbances with sweating. Anhidrosis, or lack of perspiration, of the lower body occurs along with excessive perspiration, or hyperhidrosis, of the upper body. Hyperhidrosis is typically accompanied of ingestion of certain foods (Vink et al.,

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