AIM:To determine the prevalence of delayed gastric emptying (GE) in older patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:One hundred and forty seven patients with Type 2 diabetes,of whom 140 had been hospitalised,mean age 62.3±8.0 years,HbA1c 9.1%±1.9%,treated with either oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin were studied.GE of a solid meal(scintigraphy),autonomic nerve function,upper gastrointestinal symptoms,acute and chronic glycemic control were evaluated.Gastric emptying results were compared to a control range of hospitalised patients who did not have diabetes.RESULTS:Gastric emptying was delayed(T50＞85 min)in 17.7% patients.Mean gastric emptying was slower in females(T50 72.1±72.1 rain vs 56.9±68.1 min,P=0.02)and in those reporting nausea(112.3±67.3 vs 62.7±70.0 min,P＜0.01)and early satiety(114.0±135.2vs 61.1±62.6 min,P=0.02).There was no correlation between GE with age,body weight,duration of diabetes,neuropathy,current glycemia or the total score for upper gastrointestinal symptoms.CONCLUSION:Prolonged GE occurs in about 20% of hospitalisecl elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes when compared to hospitalised patients who do not have diabetes.Female gender,nausea and early satiety are associated with higher probability of delayed GE.