Alteration of Beta-Cell Function in Different Diabetic States¹)

Summary

To assess the effects of metabolic control upon beta cell function in diabetes, proinsulin and insulin were determined following gel-filtration of plasma at two time points in each three diabetic patients, once when the metabolic state was severely deranged and again after the metabolic state had improved after therapy. Before therapy, proinsulin concentration were 30 pM (as IRI), both fasting and at 2 hours after an oral glucose load. These values did not change with treatment. Insulin concentrations were 22 pM at both time points before therapy. With treatment, plasma insulin increased 2-fold at fasting and 7-fold at 2 hours after oral glucose. These results suggest an exhaustion of the insulin pool in beta cells during severe metabolic decompensation of diabetes, a condition which may be reversed by correction of the metabolic states of the patients with proper therapy.

Key words

Metabolic control of diabetes - plasma-IRI - proinsulin - insulin - C-peptide