Preserved GLP-1 Effects in a Diabetic Patient with Cushing's Disease

Abstract

Context:A patient with diabetes mellitus, who participated in a study with intravenous administration of GLP-1, was later found to have Cushing's disease (markedly elevated 24 h urinary cortisol excretion and inadequate suppression of fasting cortisol with 2 mg dexamethasone). His diabetic state disappeared (2 h plasma glucose after 75 g oral glucose 159 mg/dl=IGT) after successful pituitary surgery (normal 24 h urinary cortisol excretion and adequate cortisol suppression with 2 mg dexamethasone).

Objective:The present analysis was undertaken to compare GLP-1 actions on fasting glycemia in diabetes mellitus due to Cushing's disease with GLP-1 actions in typical type 2 diabetes.

Design and Methods:GLP-1 (1.2 pmol/kg/min) and placebo had been infused into ten patients with diabetes mellitus over 4 h in the fasting state. The results from the patient with Cushing's disease (C) were compared to the data from the remaining nine patients with type 2 diabetes (D).

Results:Within 4 h glucose decreased from basal (C: 12.9; D: 12.9±0.7 mmol/l) to normal fasting values (C: 5.0; D: 4.9±0.4 mmol/l). The stimulation of insulin secretion and suppression of glucagon secretion was similar in the patient with Cushing's disease compared to those with type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions:The insulinotropic, glucagonostatic and glucose-lowering actions of GLP-1 in a patient with diabetes mellitus due to cortisol excess were similar to actions in typical type 2 diabetes. Therefore incretin mimetics might be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus.

References

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1 This study was supported in part by the respective institutions.

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