Diabetes
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Comparative Study
Normalization of insulin responses to glucose by overnight infusion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (7-36) amide in patients with NIDDM.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a natural enteric incretin hormone, which is a potent insulin secretogogue in vitro and in vivo in humans. Its effects on overnight glucose concentrations and the specific phases of insulin response to glucose and nonglucose secretogogues in subjects with NIDDM are not known. We compared the effects of overnight intravenous infusion of GLP-1 (7-36) amide with saline infusion, on overnight plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon in eight subjects with NIDDM. ⋯ Reduction of overnight glucose by exogenous insulin did not improve any of the phases of stimulated beta-cell function. Prolonged intravenous infusion of GLP-1 thus significantly lowered overnight glucose concentrations in subjects with NIDDM and improved both basal and stimulated beta-cell function to nondiabetic levels. It may prove to be a useful agent in the reduction of hyperglycemia in NIDDM.