There is no cure for gastroparesis. However, most patients lead normal lives with treatment.

Treatment usually involves management of other conditions and diseases, such as diabetes, that are underlying causes of gastroparesis. Diabetes can be controlled with dietary modifications, insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar [glucose])  and other medications, exercise and careful monitoring of glucose levels.

Treatment for gastroparesis typically involves making changes in diet and eating habits which may include:

• Eating smaller meals more frequently. Eating six to eight smaller meals during the day instead of two to three large ones is often recommended because larger meals take longer to digest.
  
  
• Avoiding foods with high levels of fat and/or fiber. The stomach requires more time to break down foods that are high in fiber, such as raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains and legumes. This is also true of fatty foods, such as fried foods.
  
  
• Eating pureed or liquid foods. Some patients respond well to eating liquid foods, such as soup or pureed foods. These foods contain necessary nutrients but are easier to digest than solid foods.
  
  
• Taking nutritional supplements. Patients sometimes take liquid supplements that contain vitamins and minerals because gastroparesis can result in insufficient absorption of nutrients.
  
  
• Drinking water. Patients who experience frequent vomiting due to gastroparesis may become dehydrated. Drinking water can help avoid this. Water may be easier to ingest in patients experiencing nausea by taking small sips or sucking on ice chips.

Some patients with severe gastroparesis that does not respond to changes in diet and eating habits may require a feeding tube (jejunostomy) and enteral nutrition. During the procedure, a thin tube is inserted through the skin directly into the small intestine. Nutrients and medications are placed directly into the small intestine. By avoiding the stomach, problems with gastroparesis are avoided and nutrients are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream.

Some patients are treated with parenteral nutrition as an alternative to jejunostomy. This involves inserting a thin tube (catheter) through the skin and into a chest vein. A feeding bag containing liquid nutrients and medications is connected to the catheter. After entering the body, nutrients and medications are absorbed into the bloodstream.

Patients with gastroparesis may be treated with medications. The use of medications is limited, however, because of side effects and questionable effectiveness. Medications may be administered in liquid or injection form rather than pill form because pills are sometimes hard for patients to digest. Medications include:

• Antiemetics. Used in the prevention or treatment of nausea and vomiting.
  
  
• Prokinetics. Act on the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract to help move food through the digestive system.

Severe cases of gastroparesis that do not respond to dietary modifications, eating habit changes or medication may be treated with surgery (gastrojejunostomy). During surgery, the lower part of the stomach is stapled or bypassed. The remaining portion of the stomach is reconnected to a part of the small intestine (the jejunotomy). Because there are serious side effects associated with this procedure, it is usually only performed in patients with intestinal obstruction, a lack of response to other treatment options and those who are experiencing serious complications, such as malnutrition.

Some patients may be candidates for surgical implantation of a new device called a gastric stimulator, which helps control nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis.

Other treatment options for gastroparesis are currently being studied, including:

• Electrical gastric stimulation. A battery-operated device is surgically implanted on the outer edge of the stomach. The device emits a mild electrical current that stimulates muscle contractions. Use of the device has been shown to increase the rate at which stomach contents are emptied and decrease nausea and vomiting.
  
  
• Botulinum toxin (Botox). Research has shown that, in some people, botulinum toxin relaxes the pyloric sphincter (muscle between the stomach and small intestine). Relaxing the muscle allows more food to pass from the stomach to the small intestine. The effects are usually temporary.