Pancreatic beta-cell defects in women at risk of type 2 diabetes

We evaluated insulin release and insulin sensitivity in women with basal and/or postprandial hyperglycemia but normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in previous pregnancy (GHG). These women were individually matched with females without previous hyperglycemia (NGT). Both groups consisted of normal glucose-tolerant women at the time of this study. They underwent OGTT (75 g; n=32 pairs) and hyperglycemic clamp experiments (10 mmoll(-1); n=27 pairs) with plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide measurements and calculation of insulinogenic index, first- and second-phase insulin release, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI). The GHG group showed higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (6.2+/-0.6% versus 5.8+/-0.8%; P<0.05); lower insulinogenic index at 30 min (134.03+/-62.69 pmol mmol(-1) versus 181.59+/-70.26 pmol mmoll(-1); P<0.05) and diminished C-peptide response in relation to glucose (4.05+/-0.36 nmol mmol(-1) versus 4.23+/-0.36 nmol mmol(-1); P<0.05) at OGTT. Both groups did not show difference in insulin secretion and ISI by hyperglycemic clamp technique. We concluded that in up to 12 years from index pregnancy, women with previous GHG, presenting normal glucose tolerance and well-matched with their controls, showed beta-cell dysfunction without change in ISI. As women with previous GHG are at risk of type 2 diabetes, beta-cell dysfunction may be its primary defect.     

Effect of pioglitazone on abdominal fat distribution and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients

We examined the effect of pioglitazone on abdominal fat distribution to elucidate the mechanisms via which pioglitazone improves insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thirteen type 2 diabetic patients (nine men and four women; age, 52 +/- 3 yr; body mass index, 29.0 +/- 1.1 kg/m(2)), who were being treated with a stable dose of sulfonylurea (n = 7) or with diet alone (n = 6), received pioglitazone (45 mg/d) for 16 wk. Before and after pioglitazone treatment, subjects underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and two-step euglycemic insulin clamp (insulin infusion rates, 40 and 160 mU/m(2).min) with [(3)H]glucose. Abdominal fat distribution was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging at L4-5. After 16 wk of pioglitazone treatment, fasting plasma glucose (179 +/- 10 to 140 +/- 10 mg/dl; P < 0.01), mean plasma glucose during OGTT (295 +/- 13 to 233 +/- 14 mg/dl; P < 0.01), and hemoglobin A(1c) (8.6 +/- 0.4% to 7.2 +/- 0.5%; P < 0.01) decreased without a change in fasting or post-OGTT insulin levels. Fasting plasma FFA (674 +/- 38 to 569 +/- 31 microEq/liter; P < 0.05) and mean plasma FFA (539 +/- 20 to 396 +/- 29 microEq/liter; P < 0.01) during OGTT decreased after pioglitazone. In the postabsorptive state, hepatic insulin resistance [basal endogenous glucose production (EGP) x basal plasma insulin concentration] decreased from 41 +/- 7 to 25 +/- 3 mg/kg fat-free mass (FFM).min x microU/ml; P < 0.05) and suppression of EGP during the first insulin clamp step (1.1 +/- 0.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.2 mg/kg FFM.min; P < 0.05) improved after pioglitazone treatment. The total body glucose MCR during the first and second insulin clamp steps increased after pioglitazone treatment [first MCR, 3.5 +/- 0.5 to 4.4 +/- 0.4 ml/kg FFM.min (P < 0.05); second MCR, 8.7 +/- 1.0 to 11.3 +/- 1.1 ml/kg FFM(.)min (P < 0.01)]. The improvement in hepatic and peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity occurred despite increases in body weight (82 +/- 4 to 85 +/- 4 kg; P < 0.05) and fat mass (27 +/- 2 to 30 +/- 3 kg; P < 0.05). After pioglitazone treatment, sc fat area at L4-5 (301 +/- 44 to 342 +/- 44 cm(2); P < 0.01) increased, whereas visceral fat area at L4-5 (144 +/- 13 to 131 +/- 16 cm(2); P < 0.05) and the ratio of visceral to sc fat (0.59 +/- 0.08 to 0.44 +/- 0.06; P < 0.01) decreased. In the postabsorptive state hepatic insulin resistance (basal EGP x basal immunoreactive insulin) correlated positively with visceral fat area (r = 0.55; P < 0.01). The glucose MCRs during the first (r = -0.45; P < 0.05) and second (r = -0.44; P < 0.05) insulin clamp steps were negatively correlated with the visceral fat area. These results demonstrate that a shift of fat distribution from visceral to sc adipose depots after pioglitazone treatment is associated with improvements in hepatic and peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin.     

Insulin sensitivity in subjects with secondary hyperparathyroidism and the effect of a low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level on insulin sensitivity

To investigate the relation between secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and insulin sensitivity, 15 subjects with SHPT (serum PTH >6.4 pmol/l, serum calcium <2.40 mmol/l, and normal serum creatinine) and 15 control subjects were investigated with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a 3-h hyperglycemic clamp. Body composition was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. No differences were found between the SHPT and control groups on any indices of glucose or insulin metabolism. However, when dividing the 30 subjects in the upper and lower halves according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (<59 and >58 nmol/l), those in the lower half had significantly higher 2-h serum insulin value at the OGTT, significantly higher insulin secretion during the last hour of the clamp, and significantly lower insulin sensitivity index (ISI; glucose infusion rate/insulin secretion during the last hour of the clamp). In a multiple linear regression analysis correcting for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was significantly and positively associated with the ISI. The amounts of total body and truncal fat were negatively and significantly associated with the ISI, whereas no association between measures of lean body mass were associated with insulin secretion or sensitivity.     

Metabolic effects of indinavir in healthy HIV-seronegative men

BACKGROUND: Therapy with HIV protease inhibitors (PI) has been associated with hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and changes in body composition. It is unclear whether these adverse effects are drug related, involve an interaction with the host response to HIV or reflect changes in body composition. METHODS: Indinavir 800 mg twice daily was given to 10 HIV-seronegative healthy men to distinguish direct metabolic effects of a PI from those related to HIV infection. Fasting glucose and insulin, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, oral glucose tolerance (OGTT), insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, and body composition were measured prior to and after 4 weeks of indinavir therapy. RESULTS: Fasting glucose (4.9 +/- 0.1 versus 5.2 +/- 0.2 mmol/l; P = 0.05) insulin concentrations (61.7 +/- 12.2 versus 83.9 +/- 12.2 pmol/l; P < 0.05), insulin : glucose ratio (12.6 +/- 1.7 versus 15.9 +/- 1.9 pmol/mmol; P < 0.05) and insulin resistance index by homeostasis model assessment (1.9 +/- 0.3 versus 2.8 +/- 0.5;P < 0.05) all increased significantly. During OGTT, 2 h glucose (5.1 +/- 0.4 versus 6.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/l; P < 0.05) and insulin levels (223.1 +/- 48.8 versus 390.3 +/- 108.8 pmol/l;P =0.05) also increased significantly. Insulin-mediated glucose disposal decreased significantly (10.4 +/- 1.4 versus 8.6 +/- 1.2 mg/kg x min per microU/ml insulin; 95% confidence interval 0.6--.0;P < 0.01). There was no significant change in lipoprotein, triglycerides or free fatty acid levels. There was a small loss of total body fat (15.8 +/- 1.4 versus 15.2 +/- 1.4 kg;P = 0.01) by X-ray absorptiometry without significant changes in weight, waist : hip ratio, and visceral or subcutaneous adipose tissue by computed tomography. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of HIV infection, treatment with indinavir for 4 weeks causes insulin resistance independent of increases in visceral adipose tissue or lipid and lipoprotein levels.     

Simultaneous assessment of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity using a hyperglycemia clamp.

A hyperglycemic clamp is an established method to assess insulin secretion and is generally used only for this purpose. To determine whether it could also be used to assess insulin sensitivity, we compared insulin sensitivity indices (ISI) obtained during euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp experiments in 22 nonobese volunteers (body mass index, 23.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2) and in 20 obese individuals (body mass index, 30.8 +/- 1.3 kg/m2) matched for age and gender. The ISI values (micromoles per kg.min/pmol) of the obese group assessed during hyperglycemic (0.088 +/- 0.011) and euglycemic (0.050 +/- 0.005) clamp experiments were both significantly lower than the ISI of the nonobese group assessed in hyperglycemic and euglycemic clamp experiments (0.179 +/- 0.024 and 0.096 +/- 0.009, respectively; both P less than 0.01). Although the ISI values obtained with hyperglycemic clamps were consistently greater than those obtained with euglycemic clamp (0.137 +/- 0.016 vs. 0.075 +/- 0.007; P less than 0.001), they were highly correlated (r = 0.84; P less than 0.0001). Moreover, when these indices were converted to clearance rates, thereby correcting for the mass action effects of glucose on glucose disposal, the values obtained with the hyperglycemic clamp (0.0137 +/- 0.0016 mL/kg.min/pmol) were statistically identical to those obtained with the euglycemic clamp (0.0142 +/- 0.0013 mL/kg.min/pmol), as indicated by a regression equation having an intercept of 0 and a slope (1.03) not different from 1. We, therefore, conclude that the hyperglycemic clamp and the euglycemic clamp yield comparable estimates of insulin sensitivity and that, under appropriate conditions, the hyperglycemic clamp technique may be used to assess both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in the same individual in a single experiment.     

Relationship between oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in healthy man and type 1 diabetic patients

The relationship between insulin sensitivity and oral glucose tolerance was studied in 8 conventionally treated type 1 diabetic patients (age 34 +/- 4 years, relative body weight (RBW) 113 +/- 5%) and in 11 healthy subjects (age 35 +/- 3 years, RBW 114 +/- 2%). In each subject and patient, oral glucose tolerance (75 g glucose) and in vivo sensitivity to insulin (euglycaemic clamp technique, 1 mU/kg/min insulin) were measured. The response to oral glucose in the diabetic patients was measured during maintenance of similar peripheral plasma free insulin levels as in the normal subjects during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During the OGTT, the post-glucose plasma glucose values in the diabetic patients were markedly higher (P less than 0.001) than in the normal subjects. During the clamp study, the rate of glucose metabolism in the diabetic patients (4.53 +/- 0.58 mg/kg/min) was 37% lower than in the normal subjects (7.19 +/- 0.67 mg/kg/min, P less than 0.02). The area under the glucose curve was inversely related to the rate of glucose metabolism in both the diabetic (r = -0.72, P less than 0.02) and the normal (r = -0.69, P less than 0.02) subjects. The slope of the curve was substantially steeper in the diabetic than the control subjects. Thus, peripheral insulin sensitivity contributes to oral glucose tolerance both in healthy man, and even to a greater extent, in type 1 diabetic patients.     

Thermogenic effect of slight hyperglycemia during a lipid infusion

Resistance to the glucoregulatory action of insulin is a common finding in obesity and may affect thermogenesis. In 13 healthy subjects, we studied the influence of acute insulin resistance induced by a lipid infusion on thermogenesis without any glucose load (n = 4) or during a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (n = 5) and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, n = 8). When substrates were not administered at the same time, the energy cost of storage was significantly (P < .05) lower for lipids (3.9%+/-0.9%) than for glucose (11.9%+/-0.5% during the clamp and 14.9%+/-4.0% during the OGTT, NS). The lipid infusion decreased glucose storage during the clamp (control, 3.99+/-0.40 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1); lipid infusion, 0.92+/-0.39; P < .05) but increased it during the OGTT (control, 1.76+/-0.22 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1); lipid infusion, 2.94+/-0.27; P < .05). Infused lipids were stored more (clamp, 3.31+/-0.16; OGTT, 2.65+/-0.11 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1); P < .01) and oxidized less (clamp, 0.64+/-0.21; OGTT, 1.02+/-0.09 mg x kg(-1) x min(-1); P < .05) during the clamp than during the OGTT. When lipids were infused, the energy cost of substrate storage was lower during the clamp versus the OGTT (clamp, 3.2%+/-0.8%; OGTT, 7.3%+/-1.0%; P < .05). This effect was attributed to a lipid-induced impairment of glucose tolerance, which overcomes the inhibitory effect of lipid infusion on glucose storage observed in euglycemia. A slight elevation of plasma glucose in response to a lipid infusion impairs thermogenesis by redirecting the storage of substrates from lipids to glucose, which has a higher energy cost.     

Influence of rosiglitazone treatment on beta-cell function in type 2 diabetes: evidence of an increased ability of glucose to entrain high-frequency insulin pulsatility

Thiazolidinediones have well-established insulin-sensitizing effects. Their impact on insulin secretion is less clarified. Consequently, we sought to determine potential effects of a thiazolidinedione (rosiglitazone) on the beta-cell function. Twenty type 2 diabetic individuals were randomized to receive rosiglitazone (rosi) 4 mg twice daily or placebo (pla) for 13 wk. Before treatment and at the end of the treatment period, the patients underwent an iv glucose tolerance test (0.3 g/kg), a hyperglycemic (15 mmol/liter) clamp with arginine (5 g) stimulation, assessment of baseline high-frequency insulin pulsatility, and glucose-entrained insulin pulsatility (6 mg/kg.min every 10 min), and a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Fasting plasma glucose was reduced (pla, 8.2 +/- 2.1 vs. 8.8 +/- 2.6 mmol/liter; rosi, 8.6 +/- 7.1 vs. 7.1 +/- 1.2 mmol/liter; P < 0.01), and insulin sensitivity was increased by rosiglitazone treatment (M value: pla, 5.3 +/- 1.8 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.6 mg/kg.min; rosi, 5.9 +/- 2.2 vs. 7.4 +/- 1.3 mg/kg.min; P = 0.05). First-phase insulin secretion and insulin secretory capacity were unaffected. Glucose-entrained insulin secretion was increased as assessed by spectral power analysis (P = 0.05). In conclusion, rosiglitazone treatment for 3 months in type 2 diabetic patients exerts no action on insulin secretion per se. Improved glucose-entrained high-frequency insulin pulsatility suggests an increased ability of the beta-cell to sense and respond to glucose changes within the physiological range.     

New insulin sensitivity index from the oral glucose tolerance test

A new insulin sensitivity index was devised on the basis of an autoregressive model and its validity was investigated. Using data from the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), 115 subjects were divided into 3 groups: 40 with normal glucose tolerance, 34 with impaired glucose tolerance, and 41 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The new insulin sensitivity index: oral glucose insulin sensitivity index (GSI) was calculated from five sets of plasma glucose and insulin levels obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min during OGTT using a formula based on an autoregressive model. Forty-three of the 115 subjects were examined for insulin sensitivity index (ISI) by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. GSI decreased in the order of normal glucose tolerance group>impaired glucose tolerance group>diabetic group. There was a significant correlation between GSI and the ISI derived from euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study data in all 43 subjects who underwent both tests (r=0.72; P<0.0001). The ISI calculated by previous methods poorly correlated with the ISIs obtained by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp study. In conclusion, this new insulin sensitivity index based on the data obtained from OGTT using an autoregressive model is comparable to an insulin sensitivity index by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique and may be superior to previous indexes that have been devised to determine insulin sensitivity from OGTT data.     

Validation of insulin sensitivity indices from oral glucose tolerance test parameters in obese children and adolescents

Given the extreme increase in prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and the potential for metabolic syndrome in obese youth, identifying simplified indexes for assessing stimulated insulin sensitivity is critical. The purpose of this study was validation of two surrogate indexes of insulin sensitivity determined from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): the composite whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI). An obese population (aged 8-18 yr) of normal and impaired glucose tolerance individuals was studied. One group (n = 38) performed both the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp and OGTT for comparison of insulin sensitivity measurements as well as (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy estimates of intramyocellular lipid content. Another larger (n = 368) cohort participated only in an OGTT. Both the WBISI and ISI represented good estimates (r = 0.78 and 0.74; P < 0.0005) for clamp-derived insulin sensitivity (glucose disposed, M-value), respectively. In the large cohort, the surrogate indexes demonstrated the shift toward poorer function and increased risk profile as a function of insulin resistance. Additionally, the WBISI and ISI correlated with intramyocellular lipid content (r = -0.74 and -0.71; P < 0.0001), a tissue marker for insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity can be estimated using plasma glucose and insulin responses derived from the OGTT in obese youth with normal and impaired glucose tolerance.     

Insulin sensitivity in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics after ketoacidosis and after three months of insulin therapy

Tissue sensitivity to insulin (euglycemic insulin clamp technique), hepatic glucose production (3-[3H]glucose infusion) and insulin binding to erythrocyte receptors were studied in 14 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients after the disappearance of ketosis and after 3 months of insulin therapy. The control group consisted of 14 normal subjects. During the two insulin clamp studies, plasma glucose in the diabetic patients was maintained at 5.0 +/- 0.04 (SEM) mmol/liter and 4.9 +/- 0.05 mmol/liter, with corresponding steady state free insulin levels of 90 +/- 4 mU/liter, and 67 +/- 6 mU/liter (P less than 0.02) during the first and second study, respectively. The decline in free insulin levels was due to the development of insulin antibodies during insulin therapy (10 +/- 0.1% vs. 18 +/- 2%, P less than 0.001, serum insulin-binding capacity during the first and second study, respectively). In the normal subjects, steady state plasma glucose and insulin levels were 4.9 +/- 0.1 mmol/liter and 89 +/- 4 mU/liter, respectively. The rate of glucose metabolism (M) in the diabetic patients during the first study (5.13 +/- 0.65 mg/kg X min) was 35% lower than that in the normal subjects (7.94 +/- 0.50 mg/kg X min, P less than 0.005). After 3 months of insulin therapy, M increased by 35% to 6.92 +/- 0.58 mg/kg X min, which was comparable to that in the normal subjects. To compensate for the difference in plasma free insulin levels, we calculated an index for insulin sensitivity by dividing M by the ambient insulin concentration (I). During the 3 months of insulin therapy, M/I rose 2-fold to 11.63 +/- 1.10 mg/kg X min per mU insulin/liter X 100, which was similar to that in normal subjects (9.16 +/- 0.67 mg/kg X min per mU insulin/liter X 100). Five diabetic patients had a partial clinical remission, as determined by normal fasting C-peptide levels. In these patients, insulin sensitivity was 35-50% greater than in those who failed to have a remission (P less than 0.05). Basal hepatic glucose production in the diabetic patients during the first study (2.78 +/- 0.14 mg/kg X min) was 56% higher than in the normal subjects (1.78 +/- 0.04 mg/kg X min, P less than 0.001), and remained unchanged during insulin therapy. During the hyperinsulinemia induced by the clamp, hepatic glucose production was totally suppressed in both the diabetic and control subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Rosiglitazone improves insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of rosiglitazone (ROS) on insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and glycaemic response to glucose challenge and meal in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). METHODS: Thirty patients with IGT (ages between 30 and 75 years and BMI (body mass index) < or = 27 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n = 15) or ROS (4 mg/day) (n = 15). All participants underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), meal test, and frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) before and after the 12-week treatment. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of ROS treatment, there were significant increases in total cholesterol (TC) (4.25 +/- 0.22 vs 4.80 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, P < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.25 +/- 0.07 vs 1.43 +/- 0.06 mmol/l, P < 0.05), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (2.70 +/- 0.15 vs 3.37 +/- 0.17 mmol/l, P < 0.05) without changes in triglyceride concentration, TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. Although the acute insulin response (AIR) to intravenous glucose and disposition index (measured as the ability of pancreatic beta-cell compensation in the presence of insulin resistance) remained unchanged, the insulin sensitivity (SI) and glucose effectiveness (SG) were remarkably elevated (0.38 +/- 0.06 vs 0.54 +/- 0.09 x 10(-5) min(-1)/pmol, P < 0.05; 0.017 +/- 0.002 vs 0.021 +/- 0.001 min(-1), P < 0.05, respectively) in the ROS group. The glucose, insulin, and c-peptide areas under curve (AUC) in response to OGTT and the glucose and insulin AUC during meal were significantly ameliorated in the ROS group. Five out of 15 (33%) and two out of 15 (13%) subjects treated with ROS and placebo, respectively, reversed to normal response during OGTT (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rosiglitazone treatment significantly improved insulin resistance and reduced postchallenge glucose and insulin concentrations in patients with impaired glucose tolerance without remarkable effects on beta-cell secretory function.     

Raloxifene does not modify insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in postmenopausal women

Insulin sensitivity (Si), glucose tolerance, and lipid metabolism were investigated in osteopenic postmenopausal women before and after 6 months of treatment with raloxifene (60 mg/d) or placebo. In a group of women (n = 34), glucose metabolism was evaluated by means of an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g). In another group of women (n = 24), Si and peripheral glucose utilization not dependent on insulin were evaluated by means of a frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test associated with the minimal model method. No metabolic modification was observed in women receiving placebo. Raloxifene did not significantly modify high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides, whereas it significantly decreased low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (4.84 +/- 0.34 mmol/liter vs. 3.83 +/- 0.49 mmol/liter; P = 0.014) and LDL/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (3.21 +/- 0.31 mmol/liter vs. 2.46 +/- 0.44 mmol/liter; P = 0.012). Fasting levels and responses to the oral glucose tolerance test of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and C-peptide/insulin were not modified by raloxifene. Similarly, raloxifene did not modify Si (4.22 +/- 4.1 vs. 5.13 +/- 1.75), or insulin (0.025 +/- 0.003 vs. 0.019 +/- 0.002). The present data show that in osteopenic postmenopausal women raloxifene reduces LDL levels but does not modify insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.     

Peripheral and hepatic insulin antagonism in hyperthyroidism

Eight hyperthyroid and eight normal subjects underwent 2-h oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and euglycemic clamp studies to assess the presence of peripheral and hepatic insulin antagonism in hyperthyroidism. Although the mean total glucose area during the OGTT was similar in the hyperthyroid patients and normal subjects [16.4 +/- 0.8 (+/- SE) vs. 15.8 +/- 0.7 mmol/L.h], the mean insulin area was significantly elevated in the hyperthyroid group (1413 +/- 136 vs. 1004 +/- 122 pmol/L.h; P less than 0.05). Basal hepatic glucose production was measured during the second hour of a primed [3-3H]glucose infusion. A two-insulin dose euglycemic clamp study with [3-3H]glucose and somatostatin (500 micrograms/h) was carried out during the next 6 h. The insulin infusion rate was 0.05 mU/kg.min during the third, fourth, and fifth hours and 0.60 mU/kg.min during the sixth, seventh, and eighth hours. Hepatic glucose production and glucose utilization were measured during the final 0.5 h of each clamp period. Serum C-peptide concentrations were measured in the initial sample and in the last sample of each clamp period. The mean equilibrium serum insulin concentrations were similar in both groups during the final 0.5 h of the low (90 +/- 8 vs. 79 +/- 6 pmol/L) and high (367 +/- 11 vs. 367 +/- 15 pmol/L) insulin infusion rates. Basal serum C-peptide levels were significantly increased in the hyperthyroid patients (596 +/- 17 vs. 487 +/- 43 pmol/L; P less than 0.05) but were suppressed equally in both groups at the end of both clamp periods. The MCRs of insulin were similar in the hyperthyroid and normal subjects during the low (6.7 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.5 mL/kg.min) and high (11.9 +/- 0.4 vs. 12.1 +/- 0.5 mL/kg.mm) insulin infusion rates. Glucose production was significantly increased in the hyperthyroid patients during the basal state (17.6 +/- 0.9 vs. 11.5 +/- 0.5 mumol/kg.min; P less than 0.001) and remained elevated during the final 0.5 h of the low (12.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.7; P less than 0.01) and high (3.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.3; P less than 0.05) insulin infusion rates. Peripheral insulin action, assessed by Bergman's sensitivity index, was significantly decreased in the hyperthyroid patients (7.4 +/- 2.2 vs. 15.6 +/- 2.1 L/kg min-1/pmol/L; P less than 0.02). In conclusion, hyperthyroidism is characterized by 1) hyperinsulinemia after oral glucose loading, 2) increased basal hepatic glucose production, 3) impairment of insulin-mediated suppression of hepatic glucose production, and 4) antagonism to insulin-stimulated peripheral glucose utilization.     

Relationship between the hyperinsulinemic-euglycaemic clamp and a new simple index assessing insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare assessment of insulin sensitivity from hyperinsulinemic euglycaemic (HIEG) clamp with indexes derived from fasting and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 107 sedentary non-diabetic overweight and obese postmenopausal (BMI=32.4+/-0.4 kg/m(2)) women undergoing both HIEG clamp and OGTT. Pairs of data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman graphs analysis. Comparison between correlations was made using the method reported by Zar. RESULTS: All the indexes derived from either the OGTT or surrogate indexes were highly correlated with all the clamp-derived formulas (P<0.0001). However, HOMA and QUICKI were generally less correlated than OGTT-derived indexes. Analogically to QUICKI, we calculated a new formula derived from the OGTT measurements of glucose and insulin named simple index assessing insulin sensitivity (SI(is)OGTT)=1/[log(sum glucose t(0-30-90-120)) (mmol/l)+log(sum insulin t(0-30-90-120)) (microUI/ml)]. By using this formula, we found high significant correlations (r's=0.61-0.65; P<0.0001) with the clamp results. Moreover, the correlations of SI(is)OGTT with the clamp data were higher than for other previously published indexes. CONCLUSION: In that large group of non-diabetic overweight and obese postmenopausal women insulin sensitivity index derived from OGTT provided more accurate information than fasting based formula. We propose a new simple index for the assessment of insulin sensitivity from the OGTT data (SI(is)OGTT). The advantage of this new formula over all previously published OGTT-derived indexes of insulin sensitivity is that it is 1) easy to calculate 2) better correlated than other indexes of insulin sensitivity and 3) not affected by the way clamp results are expressed. Further studies are needed to validate SI(is)OGTT index in other populations.     

Effects of chronic angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in essential hypertension.

The relation between the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system and carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity in essential hypertension has not been investigated systematically. Twenty nondiabetic patients (age, 49 +/- 1 years; body mass index (BMI), 26.1 +/- 0.4 kg/m2) with essential hypertension (blood pressure, 155 +/- 3/105 +/- 1 mm Hg) received an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at the end of a 1-month placebo period and again monthly during 3 months of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (cilazapril, 5 mg/day). Furthermore, a two-step euglycemic insulin clamp was performed after placebo and again at the end of treatment. Blood pressure fell by 7 +/- 4/10 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.001), while BMI remained stable. On the euglycemic clamp, insulin-mediated (plasma insulin, 470 pM) whole body glucose use averaged 42.5 +/- 1.6 mumol.min-1.kg-1 before and 43.6 +/- 1.9 after ACE inhibition (p = NS). Substrate concentrations and oxidative rates and energy expenditure (as estimated by indirect calorimetry) were not altered by ACE inhibition, either in the fasting state or in response to insulin. In contrast, oral glucose tolerance was significantly (p less than 0.05) improved after treatment (area under OGTT curve (AUC), 240 +/- 24 versus 282 +/- 23 mmol 2 hr.l-1). The latter change was associated with enhanced (+16%, p less than 0.05) insulin responsiveness to glucose (estimated as the insulin AUC divided by the glucose AUC) throughout the 3 months of ACE inhibition. At baseline, both the OGTT and the clamp had a marked hypokalemic effect (mean decrements in plasma potassium of 0.75 +/- 0.05 and 0.92 +/- 0.05 mmol/l, respectively) in association with plasma aldosterone reductions of 30% and 50%. Chronic ACE inhibition caused a further 20% (p less than 0.03) lowering of plasma aldosterone concentrations but attenuated insulin-induced hypokalemia. Plasma sodium, which was unaltered by the pretreatment tests, fell during the posttreatment tests (by 3 mmol/l, p less than 0.001). In the urine, the ratio of the fractional excretion of potassium to that of sodium was decreased by both oral glucose (-22%, p less than 0.01) and ACE inhibition (-21%, p less than 0.001). Higher plasma potassium levels before treatment predicted a better blood pressure response to ACE inhibition (r = 0.60, p less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Measuring insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women covering a range of glucose tolerance: comparison of indices derived from the oral glucose tolerance test with the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp

This study compares indices of insulin sensitivity derived from fasting and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose and insulin measurements, with respect to the reference measure (M/I), obtained from the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, in postmenopausal women with varying glucose tolerance status. Fasting plasma insulin index, homeostasis model assessment index, and OGTT-derived indices (insulin 120-minute, Matsuda, metabolic clearance rate [MCR] of glucose, insulin sensitivity [ISI], and Cederholm indices) were calculated and compared with the M/I value in 112 postmenopausal women. All indices examined were significantly correlated with M/I (0.28 < or = r(2) < or = 0.56). Association studies revealed that on average, 48% of women were grouped in the same tertile of insulin sensitivity when using M/I and fasting plasma insulin index, and 54% when using M/I and insulin 120-minute index. However, concordance with M/I tertiles were 57%, 58%, 64%, 64%, and 68% for homeostasis model assessment, Matsuda, MCR, ISI, and Cederholm indices, respectively. Finally, correlation coefficients between M/I and insulin sensitivity indices were generally lower in women with normal glucose tolerance compared with women with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus. These results suggest that in postmenopausal women, surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity obtained from OGTT data and incorporating a measurement of body weight or body mass index) (Cederholm, ISI, and MCR indices) appear to be superior to those without OGTT data or body weight-body mass index measurements and, therefore, could offer a better estimate of insulin sensitivity, allowing an improved clinical evaluation of this population at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Dose-dependent inhibition by ghrelin of insulin secretion in the mouse

Ghrelin is produced by stomach oxyntic cells and thought to be involved in the regulation of body weight and food intake. We demonstrate here that the peptide inhibits insulin secretion from overnight-incubated mouse islets in the presence of 8.3, 11.1, and 22.2 mmol/liter glucose. Ghrelin was most efficient at 1 nmol/liter and its effect disappeared by raising the dose more than 25 nmol/liter. Also, insulin secretion in the presence of high K(+) concentrations (20 mmol/liter) was inhibited by ghrelin. Furthermore, when administered iv to mice together with glucose (1 g/kg), ghrelin (50 nmol/kg) inhibited both the rapid 1-min insulin response (364 +/- 90 vs. 985 +/- 114 pmol/liter in controls, P < 0.001) and the area under the 50 min curve of insulin concentration (12.6 +/- 1.2 vs. 15.6 +/- 1.2 nmol/liter x 50 min; P = 0.046) without affecting the glucose disposal rate, insulin sensitivity or glucose effectiveness, i.e. glucose disposal independent from any dynamic change in insulin. The insulinostatic effect of ghrelin was inversely related to insulin sensitivity. In contrast, ghrelin had no influence at the lower dose of 5 nmol/kg and only slightly inhibited insulin secretion at the higher dose of 150 nmol/kg. These findings therefore show that ghrelin inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the mouse. The effect is dependent on the dose and elicited on distal signaling steps in islet cells. The results suggest that the islet beta-cells are targets for ghrelin.     

Simultaneous evaluation of insulin secretion and action using a model

For the simultaneous evaluation of insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity, a glucose regulation model has been developed. In order to estimate the parameters of the model, an intravenous glucose infusion test (GIT, 100 mg/kg.min x 2 min and 10 mg/kg.min x 118 min) was carried out on 15 healthy subjects (N), 12 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), 20 non-insulin-dependent diabetics (NIDDM) and 13 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). The coefficient (microU/mg) for insulin secretion depending on blood glucose concentration in IGT, NIDDM and CP were lower (35.9 +/- 2.7, 24.5 +/- 3.3, 43.1 +/- 3.1) than in N (77.5 +/- 7.9). The coefficients (microU.min/mg) for insulin secretion depending on rate of change in blood glucose concentration in IGT and NIDDM were significantly lower (6.5 +/- 2.1, 3.8 +/- 1.2) than in N (52.8 +/- 8.8). The insulin sensitivity index (ISI; 10(-2) mg/(microU/ml).kg.min) in NIDDM was lower (4.98 +/- 0.75) than in N (11.37 +/- 1.08). Administration of exogenous insulin did not significantly affect the value of ISI in N and NIDDM. ISI showed a tendency to increase (15.09 +/- 1.92) in CP. It was demonstrated that the proposed model which estimates both insulin secretory ability and insulin sensitivity simultaneously is quite useful for analyzing the mechanism of impaired glucose tolerance.     

Insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with hepatic nuclear factor-1alpha (maturity-onset diabetes of the young-3) mutations

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate insulin secretion and sensitivity in affected (diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance; n=7) and in unaffected (normal glucose tolerance; n=3) carriers of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (maturity-onset diabetes of the young-3 (MODY3)) gene mutations. METHODS: Insulin secretion was assessed by an i.v. glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), hyperglycemic clamp and arginine test, and insulin sensitivity by an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Results were compared with those of diabetic MODY2 (glucokinase-deficient) and control subjects. RESULTS: The amount of insulin secreted during an IVGTT was decreased in affected MODY3 subjects (46+/-24 (s.d.) pmol/kg body weight (BW)) as compared with values in MODY2 (120+/-49pmol/kg BW) and control (173+/-37pmol/kg BW; P=0.0004) subjects. The amount of insulin secreted during a 10mmol/l glucose clamp was decreased in affected MODY3 subjects (171+/-78pmol/kg BW) and MODY2 subjects (302+/-104pmol/kg BW) as compared with control subjects (770+/-199pmol/kg BW; P=0.0001). Insulin secretion in response to arginine was decreased in affected MODY3 subjects. Milder and heterogeneous defects were observed in the unaffected MODY3 subjects; the amount of insulin secreted during the hyperglycemic clamp was 40-79% of that of controls. The response to arginine was abnormally delayed. Insulin sensitivity was decreased in diabetic but not in non-diabetic MODY3 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Beta-cell dysfunction in response to glucose and arginine is observed in affected and unaffected MODY3 subjects. The MODY3 and MODY2 subtypes present different insulin secretion profiles. Secondary insulin resistance might contribute to the chronic hyperglycemia of MODY3 patients and modulate their glucose tolerance.