263-OR: Counterregulatory Responses to Hypoglycemia in Totally Pancreatectomized Patients

Abstract

We have previously shown that totally pancreatectomized (PX) patients secrete substantial amounts of glucagon (most likely from enteroendocrine cells) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) whereas these patients suppress circulating glucagon concentrations during intravenous glucose infusions. Here, we investigated the effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on extrapancreatic glucagon secretion and other counterregulatory factors in PX patients and in healthy controls (CTRLs). On two separate days, 12 PX patients (age 65.5±5.5 [mean±SD] years; BMI: 23.8±3.6 kg/m2) and 12 matched, healthy CTRLs (age 64.8±6.5 years; BMI: 24.5±2.9 kg/m2) underwent 1) a 50-g OGTT with 1.5 g acetaminophen (for assessment of gastric emptying) and 2) an insulin-induced hypoglycemic clamp followed by a 30-minute recovery period and a subsequent 50-g OGTT with acetaminophen. Blood was intermittently sampled throughout both experimental days. Plasma glucagon responses to OGTT (as assessed by baseline-subtracted area under curve) were greater in PX patients compared to CTRLs (386±150 vs. -340±50 min×pmol/l [mean±SEM], P=0.0001). During the hypoglycemic clamp, PX patients did not increase plasma glucagon concentrations and, thus, glucagon responses to hypoglycemia were higher in CTRLs (903±104 vs. -21±16 min×pmol/l, P<0.001). Hypoglycemia-induced responses of catecholamines, growth hormone and cortisol were similar in the two groups. Gastric emptying was unaffected by hypoglycemia in CTRLs but was decelerated by hypoglycemia in PX patients. We conclude that 1) insulin-induced hypoglycemia, which powerfully stimulates glucagon secretion in CTRLs, does not stimulate extrapancreatic glucagon secretion in PX patients; 2) counterregulatory responses of catecholamines, growth hormone and cortisol were intact in PX patients, but hypoglycemia decelerated gastric emptying in these patients. This provides mechanistic insight into the high risk of hypoglycemia in PX patients. Disclosure M. Baekdal: None. A.B. Lund: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. M. Baldassarre: None. J.I. Egholk: None. K. Rose: None. C. Hansen: None. J.H. Storkholm: None. M.B. Christensen: None. B. Hartmann: None. J. Faber: None. J.J. Holst: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk A/S, Zealand Pharma A/S. Other Relationship; Spouse/Partner; Antag Therapeutics. T. Vilsbøll: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Mundipharma International, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Medscape, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Sanofi. F.K. Knop: Advisory Panel; Self; AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Mundipharma International, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi. Consultant; Self; Carmot Therapeutics, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S. Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca, Gubra, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, Zealand Pharma A/S. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; AstraZeneca, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Norgine B.V., Novo Nordisk A/S.