Insulin-mediated skeletal muscle vasodilation contributes to both insulin sensitivity and responsiveness in lean humans.

Whether insulin-mediated vasodilation is important in determining insulin's overall action to stimulate glucose uptake is unknown. To this end, we measured leg glucose uptake during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps performed at two insulin doses (40 mU/m2 per min, n = 6 and 120 mU/m2 per min, n = 15) alone and during a superimposed intrafemoral artery infusion of GN-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) designed to blunt insulin-mediated vasodilation. During the higher dose study, hyperinsulinemia resulted in about a twofold rise in basal leg blood flow from 0.24 +/- 0.02 to 0.45 +/- 0.05 liter/min, P < 0.0001. L-NMMA infusion resulted in a net 21% reduction in leg glucose uptake from 114 +/- 18 mg/min to 85 +/- 13 mg/min, P < 0.001. We also found a significant relationship between the rate of insulin-stimulated whole body glucose uptake and the magnitude of flow dependent glucose uptake (r = 0.57, P = 0.02). Data obtained during the lower dose insulin infusion resulted in similar findings. In conclusion, in healthy lean subjects, insulin-stimulated muscle blood flow contributes to both insulin responsiveness and insulin sensitivity. The most insulin-sensitive subjects appear to be the most reliant on muscle perfusion for insulin action. Insulin-mediated vasodilation is an important physiological determinant of insulin action.     

Equivalence of the insulin sensitivity index in man derived by the minimal model method and the euglycemic glucose clamp.

Studies were done to determine whether the minimal model approach and the glucose clamp measure equivalent indices of insulin action. Euglycemic glucose clamps (glucose, G: 85 mg/dl) were performed at two rates of insulin (I) infusion (15 and 40 mU/min per m2) in 10 subjects (body mass index, BMI, from 21 to 41 kg/m2). Insulin sensitivity index (SI) from clamps varied from 0.15 to 3.15 (mean: 1.87 +/- 0.36 X 10(-2) dl/[min per m2] per microU/ml), and declined linearly with increasing adiposity (versus BMI: r = -0.97; P less than 0.001). SI from modeling the modified frequently sampled intravenous tolerance test varied from 0.66 to 7.34 X 10(-4) min-1 per microU/ml, and was strongly correlated with SIP(clamp) (r = 0.89; P less than 0.001). SI and SIP(clamp) were similar (0.046 +/- 0.008 vs. 0.037 +/- 0.007 dl/min per microU/ml, P greater than 0.35); the relation had a slope not different from unity (1.05 P greater than 0.70) and passed through the origin (P greater than 0.40). However, on a period basis, SI exceeded SIP(clamp) slightly, due to inhibition of hepatic glucose output during the FSIGT, not included in SIP(clamp). These methods are equivalent for assessment of overall insulin sensitivity in normal and insulin-resistant nondiabetic subjects.     

Insulin Binding to Monocytes and Insulin Action in Human Obesity, Starvation, and Refeeding

Insulin binding to monocytes and insulin action in vivo was examined in 14 obese subjects during the postabsorptive state and after starvation and refeeding. Tissue sensitivity to insulin was evaluated with the euglycemic insulin clamp technique. The plasma insulin concentration is acutely raised and maintained 100 muU/ml above the fasting level, and plasma glucose is held constant by a variable glucose infusion. The amount of glucose infused is a measure of tissue sensitivity to insulin and averaged 285+/-15 mg/m(2) per min in controls compared to 136+/-13 mg/m(2) per min in obese subjects (P <0.001). (125)I-Insulin binding to monocytes averaged 8.3+/-0.4% in controls vs. 4.6+/-0.5% in obese subjects (P < 0.001). Insulin binding and insulin action were highly correlated in both control (r = 0.86, P < 0.001) and obese (r = 0.94, P < 0.001) groups. Studies employing tritiated glucose to measure glucose production indicated hepatic as well as extrahepatic resistance to insulin in obesity.After 3 and 14 days of starvation, insulin sensitivity in obese subjects decreased to 69+/-4 and 71+/-7 mg/m(2) per min, respectively, whereas (125)I-insulin binding increased to 8.8+/-0.7 and 9.0+/-0.4%. In contrast to the basal state, there was no correlation between insulin binding and insulin action. After refeeding, tissue sensitivity increased to 168+/-14 mg/m(2) per min (P < 0.001) whereas insulin binding fell to 5.0+/-0.3%.We conclude that (a) in the postabsorptive state insulin binding to monocytes provides an index of in vivo insulin action in nonobese and obese subjects and, (b) during starvation and refeeding, insulin binding and insulin action changes in opposite directions suggesting that postreceptor events determine in vivo insulin sensitivity.     

Influence of hyperglycemia on insulin''s in vivo effects in type II diabetes

The present study was designed to quantitate the interaction between the decrease in target tissue insulin action seen in subjects with Type II diabetes and the mass action effect of glucose exerted via the prevailing hyperglycemic state. To this end, euglycemic glucose clamp studies were performed in 26 control subjects using insulin infusion rates of 15, 40, 120, 240, and 1,200 mU/M2 per min and in 10 Type II diabetic subjects using insulin infusion rates of 120 and 1,200 mU/M2 per min. The results of these euglycemic studies indicated that insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose disposal was decreased in the Type II diabetics due to a combined receptor (rightward shift in the dose-response curve) and postreceptor defect in insulin action (decreased maximal response), whereas the decrease in insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose output (HGO) was consistent with a defect in insulin binding (rightward shift in dose-response curve). Hyperglycemic glucose clamp studies were also performed in the Type II diabetics at their respective fasting serum glucose levels (mean [+/- SE] 280 +/- 17 mg/dl) employing insulin infusion rates of 15, 40, 120, and 1,200 mU/M2 per min. In the presence of their basal level of hyperglycemia, the noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects exhibited rates of overall glucose disposal that were similar to those observed in control subjects studied at euglycemia at similar steady state insulin concentrations. This suggests that in Type II diabetics, the mass action effect of glucose partially compensates for the marked decrease in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake observed under euglycemic conditions. However, even in the presence of hyperglycemia, insulin levels below 100 microU/ml had little effect and maximally effective insulin levels increased peripheral glucose disposal only 2.8-fold (142 +/- 7-413 +/- 47 mg/M2 per min) above basal in the Type II diabetics, compared with a sixfold increase (75 +/- 4-419 +/- 34 mg/M2 per min) in the control subjects studied at euglycemia. Thus, the severe insulin resistance that is a characteristic feature of NIDDM remains apparent. Basal HGO was elevated in the NIDDM subjects (157 +/- 6 vs. 76 +/- 4 mg/M2 per min for controls) and a high degree of correlation was found between the basal rate of HGO and the fasting glucose level (r = 0.80, P less than 0.01). The presence of hyperglycemia augmented insulin-mediated suppression of HGO, but did not restore it to normal. We concluded that: (a) in the presence of basal hyperglycemia, physiologic insulin levels exerts a diminished effect to suppress HGO and stimulate peripheral glucose disposal in NIDDM; (b) basal HGO is elevated in untreated Type II diabetics, and this may serve to maintain the level of hyperglycemia required to compensate for the decrease in peripheral insulin action; and (c) fasting hyperglycemia exerts a suppressive effect on HGO but does not completely compensate for the decrease in hepatic insulin action in Type II diabetics.     

Influence of beta-adrenergic blockade on glucose-induced thermogenesis in man.

The role of beta-adrenergically mediated sympathetic nervous activity in the regulation of glucose-induced thermogenesis was examined in healthy male subjects. Respiratory gas exchange was measured continuously, using the ventilated hood technique, under conditions of hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia (glucose clamp technique, insulin infusion 1 mU/kg per min, glucose levels 125 mg/dl above basal) before and after beta-adrenergic blockade (i.v. propranolol, 3-mg bolus plus 0.1 mg/min for 2 h). After 2 h of insulin and glucose infusion in series 1, glucose uptake had increased to 23.5 +/- 2.3 mg/kg per min and insulin concentration to 199 +/- 21 microU/ml. Simultaneously, the energy expenditure had risen by 0.39 +/- 0.05 kcal/min above basal. After propranolol administration, glucose uptake did not change, while energy expenditure fell significantly, to a level 0.28 +/- 0.04 kcal/min above basal. The glucose-induced thermogenesis (GIT) was 6.5 +/- 0.3% before and 4.6 +/- 0.5% (P less than 0.02) after propranolol. In series 2, insulin and glucose infusion was continued for 4 h without propranolol administration. Glucose uptake rose (+12%) and insulin levels increased (+40%) between the 2nd and 4th h but energy expenditure and GIT remained unchanged. Subjects in series 3 received saline infusion alone for 3 h, at which time propranolol administration as in series 1 was added during a further 2-h period. No changes in energy expenditure were seen during saline or propranolol infusion. These data demonstrate the presence of a beta-adrenergically mediated sympathetic nervous component in glucose-induced thermogenesis in healthy human subjects. This factor may be of importance in the regulation of normal body weight in man.     

Effects of insulin on peripheral and splanchnic glucose metabolism in noninsulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus.

The mechanism(s) and site(s) of the insulin resistance were examined in nine normal-weight noninsulin-dependent diabetic (NIDD) subjects. The euglycemic insulin clamp technique (insulin concentration approximately 100 microU/ml) was employed in combination with hepatic and femoral venous catheterization and measurement of endogenous glucose production using infusion of tritiated glucose. Total body glucose metabolism in the NIDD subjects (4.37 +/- 0.45 mg/kg per min) was 38% (P less than 0.01) lower than in controls (7.04 +/- 0.63 mg/kg per min). Quantitatively, the most important site of the insulin resistance was found to be in peripheral tissues. Leg glucose uptake in the diabetic group was reduced by 45% as compared with that in controls (6.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 11.0 +/- 0.1 mg/kg leg wt per min; P less than 0.01). A strong positive correlation was observed between leg and total body glucose uptake (r = 0.70, P less than 0.001). Assuming that muscle is the primary leg tissue responsible for glucose uptake, it could be estimated that 90 and 87% of the infused glucose was disposed of by peripheral tissues in the control and NIDD subjects, respectively. Net splanchnic glucose balance during insulin stimulation was slightly more positive in the control than in the diabetic subjects (0.31 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.19 mg/kg per min; P less than 0.07). The difference (0.26 mg/kg per min) in net splanchnic glucose balance in NIDD represented only 10% of the reduction (2.67 mg/kg per min) in total body glucose uptake in the NIDD group and thus contributed very little to the insulin resistance. The results emphasize the importance of the peripheral tissues in the disposal of infused glucose and indicate that muscle is the most important site of the insulin resistance in NIDD.     

Insulin. Its role in the thermic effect of glucose.

To investigate the possible role of insulin per se in the thermic response to glucose/insulin infusions, respiratory exchange measurements were performed on eight healthy young men for 45 min before and 210 min after somatostatin infusion. Two tests were performed on separate days and each had two consecutive phases of 90 min each. Test 1. Two different rates of glucose uptake were imposed, one at euglycemia (phase 1) and the other at hyperglycemia (phase 2) while insulinemia was maintained constant throughout. Test 2. Glucose uptake was maintained constant throughout while insulin was infused at two different rates: 1 mU/kg per min with hyperglycemia (phase 1) and 6.45 mU/kg per min with "euglycemia" (phase 2). The thermic effect of glucose and insulin, obtained from phase 1 in both tests, was 5.9 +/- 1.2 and 5.8 +/- 0.5% (NS) of the energy infused, respectively. A step increase in glucose uptake alone, test 1, phase 2, (0.469 +/- 0.039 to 1.069 +/- 0.094 g/min) caused an increase in energy expenditure of 0.14 +/- 0.03 kcal/min (thermic effect 5.9 +/- 1.1%). When insulin was increased by 752 +/- 115 microU/ml, with no change in glucose uptake, energy expenditure rose by 0.05 +/- 0.02 kcal/min, which correlated with the increase in plasma catecholamines. It is concluded that a large proportion of the thermic response to glucose/insulin infusions is due to glucose metabolism alone. The thermic effect of insulin is small and appears to be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system; thus at physiological insulin concentrations, the thermic effect of insulin per se is negligible.     

Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance in Aging

We have studied 17 elderly and 27 non-elderly, nonobese subjects (mean age 69±1 and 37±2 yr, respectively) to assess the mechanisms responsible for the abnormal carbohydrate tolerance associated with aging. Serum glucose and insulin levels were significantly elevated in the elderly subjects compared with the nonelderly subjects during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, suggesting an insulin resistant state. Peripheral insulin sensitivity was assessed in both groups using the euglycemic glucose clamp technique during an insulin infusion rate of 40 mU/m² per min. Similar steady-state serum insulin levels led to a peripheral glucose disposal rate of 151±17 mg/m² per min in the elderly compared with a value of 247±12 mg/m² per min in the nonelderly, thus documenting the presence of insulin resistance in the elderly subjects. Insulin binding to isolated adipocytes and monocytes was similar in the elderly and nonelderly groups (2.34±0.33 vs. 2.62±0.24% and 5.04±1.10 vs. 5.12±1.07%), respectively. Thus, insulin resistance in the presence of normal insulin binding suggests the presence of a postreceptor defect in insulin action. This was confirmed by performing additional euglycemic clamp studies using infusion rates of 15 and 1,200 mU/m² per min to assess the contours of the dose-response relationship. These studies revealed a 39 and 25% decrease in the glucose disposal rate in the elderly subjects, respectively. The results confirm the presence of a postreceptor defect as well as a rightward shift in the dose-response curve. Insulin's ability to suppress hepatic glucose output was less in the elderly subjects during the 15 mU/m² per min insulin infusion (77±5 vs. 89±4% suppression), but hepatic glucose output was fully and equally suppressed in both groups during the 40 and 1,200 mU/m² per min infusion. Finally, a significant inverse relationship was observed between the degree of glucose intolerance in the individual elderly subjects, as reflected by the 2-h serum glucose level during the oral glucose tolerance test, and the degree of peripheral insulin resistance as assessed by the glucose disposal rate during the 40 mU/m² per min insulin infusion (r = 0.59, P < 0.01).     

Mechanisms of insulin resistance in human obesity: evidence for receptor and postreceptor defects.

To assess the mechanisms of the insulin resistance in human obesity, we have determined, using a modification of the euglycemic glucose clamp technique, the shape of the in vivo insulin-glucose disposal dose-response curves in 7 control and 13 obese human subjects. Each subject had at least three euglycemic studies performed at insulin infusion rates of 15, 40, 120, 240, or 1,200 mU/M2/min. The glucose disposal rate was decreased in all obese subjects compared with controls (101 +/- 16 vs. 186 +/- 16 mg/M2/min) during the 40 mU/M2/min insulin infusion. The mean dose-response curve for the obese subjects was displaced to the right, i.e., the half-maximally effective insulin concentration was 270 +/- 27 microU/ml for the obese compared with 130 +/- 10 microU/ml for controls. In nine of the obese subjects, the dose-response curves were shifted to the right, and maximal glucose disposal rates (at a maximally effective insulin concentration) were markedly decreased, indicating both a receptor and a postreceptor defect. On the other hand, four obese patients had right-shifted dose-response curves but reached normal maximal glucose disposal rates, consistent with decreased insulin receptors as the only abnormality. When the individual data were analyzed, it was found that the lease hyperinsulinemic, least insulin-resistant patients displayed only the receptor defect, whereas those with the greatest hyperinsulinemia exhibited the largest post-receptor defect, suggesting a continuous spectrum of defects as one advances from mild to severe insulin resistance. When insulin's ability to suppress hepatic glucose output was assessed, hyperinsulinemia produced total suppresssion in all subjects. The dose-response curve for the obese subjects was shifted to the right, indicating a defect in insulin receptors. Insulin binding to isolated adipocytes obtained from the obese subjects was decreased, and a highly significant inverse linear relationship was demonstrated between insulin binding and the serum insulin concentration required for halfmaximal stimulation of glucose disposal. In conclusion: (a) decreased cellular insulin receptors contribute to the insulin resistance associated with human obesity in all subjects; (b) in the least hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant patients, decreased insulin receptors are the sole defect, whereas in the more hyperinsulinemic, insulin-resistant patients, the insulin resistance is the result of a combination of receptor and postreceptor abnormalities; (c) all obese patients were insensitive to insulin's suppressive effects on hepatic glucose output; this was entirely the result of decreased insulin receptors; no postreceptor defect in this insulin effect was demonstrated.     

Insulin control of glucose metabolism in man: a new kinetic analysis

Analyses of the control of glucose metabolism by insulin have been hampered by changes in bloog glucose concentration induced by insulin administration with resultant activation of hypoglycemic counterregulatory mechanisms. To eliminate such mechanisms, we have employed the glucose clamp technique which allows maintenance of fasting blood glucose concentration during and after the administration of insulin. Analyses of six studies performed in young healthy men in the postabsorptive state utilizing the concurrent administration of [14C]glucose and 1 mU/kg per min (40 mU/m2 per min) porcine insulin led to the development of kinetic models for insulin and for glucose. These models account quantitatively for the control of insulin on glucose utilization and on endogenous glucose production during nonsteady states. The glucose model, a parallel three-compartment model, has a central compartment (mass = 68 +/- 7 mg/kg; space of distribution = blood water volume) in rapid equilibrium with a smaller compartment (50 +/- 17 mg/kg) and in slow equilibrium with a larger compartment (96 +/-21 mg/kg). The total plasma equivalent space for the glucose system averaged 15.8 liters or 20.3% body weight. Two modes of glucose loss are introduced in the model. One is a zero-order loss (insulin and glucose independent) from blood to the central nervous system; its magnitude was estimated from published data. The other is an insulin-dependent loss, occurring from the rapidly equilibrating compartment and, in the basal period, is smaller than the insulin-independent loss. Endogenous glucose production averaged 1.74 mg/kg per min in the basal state and enters the central compartment directly. During the glucose clamp experiments plasma insulin levels reached a plateau of 95 +/-8 microU/ml. Over the entire range of insulin levels studied, glucose losses were best correlated with levels of insulin in a slowly equilibrating insulin compartment of a three-compartment insulin model. A proportional control by this compartment on glucose utilization was adequate to satisfy the observed data. Insulin also rapidly decreased the endogenous glucose production to 33% of its basal level (0.58 mg/kg per min), this suppression being maintained for at least 40 min after exogenous insulin infusion was terminated and after plasma insulin concentrations had returned to basal levels.The change in glucose utilization per unit change in insulin in the slowly equilibrating insulin compartment is proposed as a new measure for insulin sensitivity. This defines insulin effects more precisely than previously used measures, such as plasma glucose/plasma insulin concentration ratios.Glucose clamp studies and the modeling of the coupled kinetics of glucose and insulin offers a new and potentially valuable tool to the study of altered states of carbohydrate metabolism.     

Study of insulin metabolism in hyperthyroid patients

Hyperthyroidism is associated with degradation of carbohydrate metabolism. The insulin metabolism in 12 hyperthyroid patients is compared with 10 control subjects. The patients were connected to an artificial beta cell (Biostator GCIIS Miles) for two hours of insulin infusion (40 mU/m2/mn) while glycemia was maintained at its basal level by a modulated glucose infusion. Blood samples were taken, every 15 minutes for insulin and C peptide dosage. In control subjects the insulin steady state level was 93.3 +/- 5 microU/ml whereas this ranged from 42 +/- 3.4 microU/ml to 68 +/- 3.9 microU/ml in hyperthyroid patients. After treatment the insulin level was not quite normal, and ranged from 52 +/- 4.8 microU/ml to 82.2 +/- 9 microU/ml. A glucose intake not corresponding to the same insulin steady state is not therefore to be interpreted. Here there is no evidence of a correlation between the percentage decrease in the insulin test level and the thyroid hormone levels. An impairment of insulin metabolism is suggested in hyperthyroid patients, which might contribute to the decrease in carbohydrate tolerance.     

Evidence that the brain of the conscious dog is insulin sensitive.

The aim of this study was to determine whether a selective increase in the level of insulin in the blood perfusing the brain is a determinant of the counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia. Experiments were carried out on 15 conscious 18-h-fasted dogs. Insulin was infused (2 mU/kg per min) in separate, randomized studies into a peripheral vein (n = 7) or both carotid and vertebral arteries (n = 8). This resulted in equivalent systemic insulinemia (84 +/- 6 vs. 86 +/- 6 microU/ml) but differing insulin levels in the head (84 +/- 6 vs. 195 +/- 5 microU/ml, respectively). Glucose was infused during peripheral insulin infusion to maintain the glucose level (56 +/- 2 mg/dl) at a value similar to that seen during head insulin infusion (58 +/- 2 mg/dl). Despite equivalent peripheral insulin levels and similar hypoglycemia; steady state plasma epinephrine (792 +/- 198 vs. 2394 +/- 312 pg/ml), norepinephrine (404 +/- 33 vs. 778 +/- 93 pg/ml), cortisol (6.8 +/- 1.8 vs. 9.8 +/- 1.6 micrograms/dl) and pancreatic polypeptide (722 +/- 273 vs. 1061 +/- 255 pg/ml) levels were all increased to a greater extent during head insulin infusion (P < 0.05). Hepatic glucose production, measured with [3-3H]glucose, rose from 2.6 +/- 0.2 to 4.3 +/- 0.4 mg/kg per min (P < 0.01) in response to head insulin infusion but remained unchanged (2.6 +/- 0.5 mg/kg per min) during peripheral insulin infusion. Similarly, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, and ketogenesis were increased twofold (P < 0.001) during head compared with peripheral insulin infusion. Cardiovascular parameters were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) during head compared with peripheral insulin infusion. We conclude that during hypoglycemia in the conscious dog (a) the brain is directly responsive to physiologic elevations of insulin and (b) the response includes a profound stimulation of the autonomic nervous system with accompanying metabolic and cardiovascular changes.     

Mechanisms of glucagon secretion during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in man. Role of the beta cell and arterial hyperinsulinemia

To elucidate the mechanisms controlling the response of glucagon to hypoglycemia, a vital component of the counterregulatory hormonal response, the role of intraislet insulin was studied in seven normal subjects and five subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (of less than 15-mo duration). In the normal subjects, hypoglycemia (arterial plasma glucose [PG] 53 +/- 3 mg/dl) induced by an intravenous insulin infusion (30 mU/m2 X min for 1 h, free immunoreactive insulin [FIRI] 58 +/- 2 microU/ml) elicited a 100% fall in insulin secretion and an integrated rise in glucagon of 7.5 ng/ml per 120 min. When endogenous insulin secretion was suppressed by congruent to 50 or congruent to 85% by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (FIRI 63 +/- 1.5 or 147 +/- 0.3 microU/ml, respectively) before hypoglycemia, the alpha cell responses to hypoglycemia were identical to those of the control study. When the endogenous insulin secretion was stimulated by congruent to 100% (hyperinsulinemic-hyperglycemic clamp, FIRI 145 +/- 1.5 microU/ml, PG 132 +/- 2 mg/dl) before hypoglycemia, the alpha cell responses to the hypoglycemia were also superimposable on those of the control study. Finally, in C-peptide negative diabetic subjects made euglycemic by a continuous overnight intravenous insulin infusion, the alpha cell responses to hypoglycemia were comparable to those of normal subjects despite absent beta cell secretion, and were not affected by antecedent hyperinsulinemia (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp for 2 h, FIRI 61 +/- 2 microU/ml). These results indicate that the glucagon response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia is independent of the level of both endogenous intraislet and exogenous arterial insulin concentration in normal man, and that this response may be normal in the absence of endogenous insulin secretion, in contrast to earlier reports. Thus, loss of beta cell function is not responsible for alpha cell failure during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in IDDM.     

Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Binding to Monocytes in Maturity-Onset Diabetes

Tissue sensitive to insulin and insulin binding to monocytes were evaluated in 15 nonobese maturity-onset diabetics and in 16 healthy controls. Insulin sensitivity was determined by the insulin clamp technique in which the plasma insulin is acutely raised and maintained 100 muU/ml above the fasting level and plasma glucose is held constant at fasting levels by a variable glucose infusion. The amount of glucose infused is a measure of overall tissue sensitivity to insulin.In the diabetic group, the fasting plasma glucose concentration (168+/-4 mg/dl) was 85% greater than controls (P < 0.01) whereas the plasma insulin level (15+/-1 muU/ml) was similar to controls. During the insulin clamp study, comparable plasma insulin levels were achieved in the diabetics (118+/-5) and the controls (114+/-5 muU/ml). However, the glucose infusion rate in the diabetics (4.7+/-0.4 mg/kg.min) was 30% below controls (P < 0.01). Among the diabetics, the glucose infusion rate correlated directly with the fasting plasma glucose level (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). In five diabetic subjects, glucose metabolism was similar to controls, and these diabetics had the highest fasting glucose levels. When they were restudied after prior normalization (with insulin) of the fasting plasma glucose (100+/-1 mg/dl), the glucose infusion rate during the insulin clamp was 30% lower than observed in association with hyperglycemia (P < 0.01). Studies that employed tritiated glucose to measure endogenous glucose production indicated comparable 90-95% inhibition of hepatic glucose production during hyperinsulinemia in the diabetic and control subjects.(125)I-insulin binding to monocytes in the diabetics (5.5+/-0.6%) was 30% below that in controls (P < 0.01). Insulin binding to monocytes and insulin action as determined with the insulin clamp were highly correlated in both control (r = 0.67, P < 0.01), and diabetic subjects (r = 0.88, P < 0.001).We conclude that (a) tissue sensitivity to physiologic hyperinsulinemia is reduced in most maturity-onset diabetics; (b) this decrease in sensitivity is located, at least in part, in extrahepatic tissues; (c) the resistance to insulin may be mediated by a reduction in insulin binding; and (d) in maturity-onset diabetics with normal tissue sensitivity to insulin, hyperglycemia may be a contributing factor to the normal rates of insulin-mediated glucose uptake.     

An in vivo and in vitro study of the mechanism of prednisone-induced insulin resistance in healthy subjects.

Prednisone-induced insulin resistance may depend on either reduced sensitivity (receptor defect) or reduced response to insulin (postreceptor defect). To clarify the mechanism of prednisone-induced insulin resistance, a [3H]glucose infusion (1 microCi/min) was performed for 120 min before and during a euglycemic clamp repeated at approximately 100, approximately 1,000, and approximately 10,000 microU/ml steady state plasma insulin concentration in 10 healthy, normal weight subjects, aged 35 +/- 7 yr. Each test was repeated after 7-d administration of placebo or prednisone (15 plus 15 mg/d per subject), in a randomized sequence with an interval of 1 mo between the two tests. Mean fasting blood glucose (89.5 +/- 2.1 vs. 83.7 +/- 1.9 mg/dl) and mean fasting plasma insulin values (17.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 14.3 +/- 0.8 microU/ml) were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) after prednisone. The insulin sensitivity index (glucose metabolic clearance rate in ml/kg per min) was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) after prednisone at all three steady state plasma insulin levels: 2.8 +/- 0.3 vs. 7.4 +/- 1.1 at approximately 100 microU/ml; 6.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 12.2 +/- 1.1 at approximately 1,000 microU/ml; 7.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 14.4 +/- 0.5 at approximately 10,000 microU/ml. Fasting glucose production (in mg/kg per min) was significantly higher after prednisone: 3.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.9 +/- 0.2, P less than 0.001. Suppression of glucose production at steady state plasma insulin level of approximately 100 microU/ml was less after prednisone (1.01 +/- 0.35 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.13, NS), and total at approximately 1,000 and approximately 10,000 microU/ml after both prednisone and placebo. The metabolic kinetic parameters of insulin after prednisone were not significantly different from those after placebo. In addition, insulin binding and 3-ortho-methyl-glucose transport were studied in vitro on fat cells from 16 normal-weight surgical candidates aged 40 +/- 8 yr (10 treated with placebo and 6 with prednisone as above). No significant difference was observed with regard to specific insulin binding (tested with 1 ng/ml hormone only), whereas significant transport differences were noted at the basal level (0.40 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.54 +/- 0.12 pmol/10(5) cells, P less than 0.05), and at increasing concentrations up to the maximum stimulation values (5 ng/ml): 0.59 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.92 +/- 0.12 pmol/10(5) cells, P less than 0.005. These results suggest that (a) administration of an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone for 7 d induces insulin resistance in man; (b) this is more dependent on depressed peripheral glucose utilization than on increased endogenous production; (c) total insulin binding on isolated adipocytes is not significantly affected; (d) insulin resistance is primarily the outcome of postreceptor defect (impaired glucose transport).     

Mechanism of insulin resistance in human liver cirrhosis. Evidence of a combined receptor and postreceptor defect.

Insulin resistance in liver cirrhosis may depend on either reduced sensitivity (receptor defect) and/or reduced response to insulin (postreceptor defect). To clarify the mechanism of such resistance, a [3H]glucose infusion (0.2 microCi/min) was performed for 120 min before and during a euglycemic clamp at approximately 100, 1,000, and 10,000 microU/ml steady state plasma insulin concentration in 18 compensated cirrhotics with portal hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance, and 18 healthy volunteers with no family history of diabetes, matched for sex, age, and weight. Mean fasting plasma insulin (29.2 +/- 3.4 SEM vs. 14.8 +/- 1.1 microU/ml) was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in cirrhotics, while fasting plasma glucose was much the same in the two groups. Glucose use (milligrams per kilogram per minute) was significantly lower in cirrhotics at all three steady state plasma insulin levels: 3.04 +/- 0.34 vs. 7.72 +/- 0.61 (P less than 0.001) at approximately 100; 6.05 +/- 1.07 vs. 11.45 +/- 1.24 (P less than 0.001) at approximately 1,000; and 11.69 +/- 0.69 vs. 14.13 +/- 0.74 (P less than 0.05) at approximately 10,000 microU/ml. Mean plasma C-peptide was significantly higher in cirrhotics both basally and during the steady states (P less than 0.001); it was completely suppressed at approximately 10,000 microU/ml in controls and only 57.5% of the baseline in cirrhotics. Endogenous glucose production (milligrams per kilogram per minute) was much the same in the two groups in the fasting state and almost entirely suppressed in the controls (0.10 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.11, P less than 0.001) at approximately 100 microU/ml; at approximately 1,000 microU/ml a residual glucose production, 0.07 +/- 0.05, was observed in the cirrhotics only. In addition, insulin binding and 3-ortho-methyl-glucose transport were studied in vitro in six cirrhotics and six controls. Insulin binding to circulating monocytes and isolated adipocytes was significantly lower (P less than 0.025) in cirrhotics in all insulin concentration studies. Glucose transport values on isolated adipocytes were significantly lower in cirrhotics both basally (P less than 0.001) and at maximal insulin concentration (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that insulin resistance in human cirrhosis is more dependent on depressed peripheral glucose use than on increased endogenous glucose production, and that a combined receptor and postreceptor defect in insulin action on target cells seems to be present.     

Insulin deficiency and insulin resistance in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes: quantitative contributions of pancreatic and peripheral responses to glucose homeostasis

A non-steady state dose-response study was designed to quantitate peripheral sensitivity to insulin and pancreatic responsiveness to glucose, and to assess their relative contribution to glucose intolerance in Type 2 diabetes (Type 2 DM, non-insulin-dependent). Eleven lean and eleven obese patients with mild diabetes (fasting plasma glucose, FPG, 10.3 +/- 1.0 and 9.4 +/- 0.6 mmol l-1, respectively) were examined; twenty-six lean and twelve weight-matched obese subjects served as controls. Pancreatic response was measured by sequential injection of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9 g kg-1 glucose; peripheral sensitivity to insulin was determined from the rate of clearance (Kgluc) of 0.3 g glucose injected sequentially together with 25, 50 and 100 mU insulin kg-1 or with 0, 12.5 and 50 mU kg-1, under somatostatin infusion. The mean dose-response curve describing glucose-induced insulin release showed increased maximal capacity to secrete insulin in obese controls, while the responses of lean as well as obese Type 2 DM were reduced by more than 80%. The mean dose-response curves relating plasma exogenous insulin levels to Kgluc were similar in lean diabetics and lean controls. The curves of both obese controls and obese diabetics were shifted to the right, demonstrating similar insulin resistance. In four lean controls, sensitivity to insulin was tested also during a hyperglycemic clamp set at 10.3 +/- 0.6 mmol l-1. Hyperglycemia reduced the Kgluc at all insulin levels. Individual dose-response curves were transformed to single weighted numerical pancreatic responsiveness scores [PRS], and peripheral sensitivity scores [PSS].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in healthy elderly human subjects

Insulin resistance has been reported in normal ageing but discrepancies between such studies may be related to compounding factors such as body composition and exercise patterns. We employed a two-step hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp to assess peripheral and hepatic tissue insulin sensitivity and glucose recycling in 13 elderly (E) and 14 young (Y) healthy subjects controlling for the above factors. There was no difference in basal hepatic glucose production (E: 2.36 +/- 0.06, Y: 2.47 +/- 0.1 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.4). At step 1 (insulin infusion 15 mU kg-1 h-1) glucose turnover was similar (E: 2.65 +/- 0.13, Y: 2.88 +/- 0.22 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.4) but hepatic glucose production was lower in the elderly group (0.20 +/- 0.16 vs 0.64 +/- 0.10 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.03). At step 2 (insulin infusion 50 mU kg-1 h-1) glucose turnover was similar (E: 7.60 +/- 0.24, Y: 8.05 +/- 0.34 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.3) and hepatic glucose production was equal but negative (E: -1.35 +/- 0.18, Y: -1.34 +/- 0.22 mg kg-1 min-1; P = 0.9). Glucose recycling did not differ between the groups at any stage. Similar serum insulin levels were achieved in both groups at each step. Decreased glucose tolerance was confirmed in E with a higher 2 h blood glucose after an OGTT (5.3 +/- 0.4 vs 4.1 +/- 0.3 mmol l-1; P = 0.03) but incremental insulin response was similar (E: 3236 +/- 289, Y: 3586 +/- 463 mU l-1 min-1; P = 0.5). We conclude that changes in hepatic tissue insulin sensitivity do not cause the deterioration in glucose tolerance observed with age. A small reduction in both peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity and late insulin secretion may be responsible.     

Insulin resistance in uremia.

Tissue sensitivity to insulin was examined with the euglycemic insulin clamp technique in 17 chronically uremic and 36 control subjects. The plasma insulin concentration was raised by approximately 100 microU/ml and the plasma glucose concentration was maintained at the basal level with a variable glucose infusion. Under these steady-state conditions of euglycemia, the glucose infusion rate is a measure of the amount of glucose taken up by the entire body. In uremic subjects insulin-mediated glucose metabolism was reduced by 47% compared with controls (3.71 +/- 0.20 vs. 7.38 +/- 0.26 mg/kg . min; P less than 0.001). Basal hepatic glucose production (measured with [3H]-3-glucose) was normal in uremic subjects (2.17 +/- 0.04 mg/kg . min) and suppressed normally by 94 +/- 2% following insulin administration. In six uremic and six control subjects, net splanchnic glucose balance was also measured directly by the hepatic venous catheterization technique. In the postabsorptive state splanchnic glucose production was similar in uremics (1.57 +/- 0.03 mg/kg . min) and controls (1.79 +/- 0.20 mg/kg . min). After 90 min of sustained hyperinsulinemia, splanchnic glucose balance reverted to a net uptake which was similar in uremics (0.42 +/- 0.11 mg/kg . min) and controls (0.53 +/- 0.12 mg/kg . min). In contrast, glucose uptake by the leg was reduced by 60% in the uremic group (21 +/- 1 vs. 52 +/- 8 mumol/min . kg of leg wt; P less than 0.005) and this decrease closely paralleled the decrease in total glucose metabolism by the entire body. These results indicate that: (a) suppression of hepatic glucose production by physiologic hyperinsulinemia is not impaired by uremia, (b) insulin-mediated glucose uptake by the liver is normal in uremic subjects, and (c) tissue insensitivity to insulin is the primary cause of insulin resistance in uremia.     

Effect of metformin on insulin-stimulated glucose turnover and insulin binding to receptors in type II diabetes

Euglycemic insulin glucose-clamp and insulin-binding studies on erythrocytes and monocytes were performed in seven type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects before and after 4 wk of metformin treatment (850 mg 3 times/day) and in five obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Glucose turnover was also measured at basal insulin concentrations and during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps. During euglycemic insulin-glucose clamps, diabetic subjects showed glucose disposal rates of 3.44 +/- 0.42 and 7.34 +/- 0.34 mg X kg-1 X min-1 (means +/- SD) before metformin at insulin infusion rates of 0.80 and 15.37 mU X kg-1 X min-1, respectively. With the same insulin infusion rates, glucose disposal was 4.94 +/- 0.55 (P less than .01) and 8.99 +/- 0.66 (P less than .01), respectively, after metformin treatment. Glucose disposal rates in normal obese subjects were 5.76 +/- 0.63 (P less than .01) and 10.92 +/- 1.11 (P less than .01) at 0.80 and 15.37 mU X kg-1 X min-1, respectively. Insulin maximum binding to erythrocytes in diabetics was 9.6 +/- 4.2 and 5.8 +/- 2.6 X 10(9) cells (means +/- SD) before and after metformin treatment, respectively (NS). Insulin maximum binding to monocytes in diabetics was 6.2 +/- 2.3 X 10(7) cells before and 5.0 +/- 1.6% after metformin. Hepatic glucose production was higher in the diabetic patients at basal insulin levels, but not at higher insulin concentrations, and was not significantly changed by drug treatment. Basal glucose and insulin concentrations decreased with metformin. Thus, metformin treatment improved glucose disposal rate without significant effect on insulin-binding capacity on circulating cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)