Determining pancreatic β-cell compensation for changing insulin sensitivity using an oral glucose tolerance test

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2014 Nov 1;307(9):E822-9. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00269.2014. Epub 2014 Sep 2.

Abstract

Plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide responses during an OGTT are informative for both research and clinical practice in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to use such information to determine insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion so as to calculate an oral glucose disposition index (DI(OGTT)) that is a measure of pancreatic β-cell insulin secretory compensation for changing insulin sensitivity. We conducted an observational study of n = 187 subjects, representing the entire glucose tolerance continuum from normal glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes. OGTT-derived insulin sensitivity (S(I OGTT)) was calculated using a novel multiple-regression model derived from insulin sensitivity measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp as the independent variable. We also validated the novel S(I OGTT) in n = 40 subjects from an independent data set. Plasma C-peptide responses during OGTT were used to determine oral glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS(OGTT)), and DI(OGTT) was calculated as the product of S(I OGTT) and GSIS(OGTT). Our novel S(I OGTT) showed high agreement with clamp-derived insulin sensitivity (typical error = +3.6%; r = 0.69, P < 0.0001) and that insulin sensitivity was lowest in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. GSIS(OGTT) demonstrated a significant inverse relationship with S(I OGTT). GSIS(OGTT) was lowest in normal glucose-tolerant subjects and greatest in those with impaired glucose tolerance. DI(OGTT) was sequentially lower with advancing glucose intolerance. We hereby derive and validate a novel OGTT-derived measurement of insulin sensitivity across the entire glucose tolerance continuum and demonstrate that β-cell compensation for changing insulin sensitivity can be readily calculated from clinical variables collected during OGTT.

Keywords: disposition index; hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp; insulin resistance; insulin secretion; insulin sensitivity; insulin sensitivity index; obesity; oral glucose tolerance; type 2 diabetes; β-cell dysfunction; β-cell function.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Allostasis*
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Cohort Studies
  • Denmark
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Glucose Clamp Technique
  • Glucose Intolerance / blood
  • Glucose Intolerance / diagnosis*
  • Glucose Intolerance / metabolism
  • Glucose Intolerance / physiopathology
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ohio
  • Prediabetic State / blood
  • Prediabetic State / diagnosis*
  • Prediabetic State / metabolism
  • Prediabetic State / physiopathology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Insulin