There are a few ways diabetes can lead to diarrhea. Certain medications and even using artificial sweeteners, which are poorly absorbed by the colon, are two common triggers. People with diabetes may also have autonomic neuropathy, a condition that damages the nerves that control involuntary functions. Intestinal nerve damage leads to nighttime fecal incontinence. Another consequence of nerve damage is bacterial overgrowth. Individuals can have poor digestion as a result of slower-than-normal food movement through the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to excess bacterial colonization that causes bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting.

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