Endocrinology and diabetes: diabetic gastroparesis: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Endocrinology and diabetes: diabetic gastroparesis

Sample item

A 38-year-old man with type 1 diabetes for 20 years has early satiety, postprandial vomiting of undigested food and erratic glucose control. Endoscopy shows retained food without mechanical obstruction. Which drug is appropriate?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Metoclopramide

Autonomic neuropathy delays gastric emptying. Dopamine antagonist prokinetics such as metoclopramide, with small frequent low-fat meals and optimised glycaemia, are used, though long-term use is limited by tardive dyskinesia risk.

Option by option

  • A. Aluminium hydroxide gel

    Antacid gels neutralise acid but do not improve gastric motility.

  • B. Loperamide

    Loperamide slows gut motility and would worsen the problem.

  • C. Hyoscine butylbromide

    Antimuscarinics slow gastric motility and would worsen emptying.

  • D. Metoclopramide (correct)

    Correct. A prokinetic that speeds gastric emptying treats the cause.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Metoclopramide. Autonomic neuropathy delays gastric emptying.

Why is "Aluminium hydroxide gel" not the answer?

Antacid gels neutralise acid but do not improve gastric motility.

Why is "Loperamide" not the answer?

Loperamide slows gut motility and would worsen the problem.

Why is "Hyoscine butylbromide" not the answer?

Antimuscarinics slow gastric motility and would worsen emptying.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrinology and diabetes: diabetic gastroparesis in General Medicine. Dopamine antagonist prokinetics such as metoclopramide, with small frequent low-fat meals and optimised glycaemia, are used, though long-term use is limited by tardive dyskinesia risk.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Endocrinology and diabetes: diabetic gastroparesis?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.