There are few objective methods of diagnosing diabetic visceral neuropathy. In the past the author has encountered patients with diabetes mellitus who have shown abnormal esophageal motility in enough instances to lead him to suspect a significant association. Because of this he instituted a systematic radiographic study of esophageal motility in diabetes mellitus. During the course of this investigation a study was published indicating that 12 of 14 diabetics with neuropathy-gastroenteropathy manifested an abnormal esophageal motility pattern on cineradiographic study (1). This is the only previous publication pertaining directly to the problem. Method Esophageal peristalsis was observed in diabetic and in nondiabetic individuals in both prone oblique positions. The barium mixture used was the same as that routinely employed in our department. If a normal progressive peristaltic wave occurred, at least one was recorded cineradiographically. If no progressive peristaltic wave appeared, the patient was obs...