Abstract
Aim and objectiveThe study aims to analyze fasting glucagon in patients with type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance and correlate it with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in a large proportion of Pakistani people with diabetes. MethodologyThe participants of the study were categorized into three groups based on oral glucose tolerance test, as per American Diabetes Association guidelines. Group A consisted of normal glucose tolerance subjects (n=30), Group B consisted of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (n=30), and Group C had full-blown subjects with type 2 diabetes (n=30). Biochemical parameters, such as fasting glucagon, fasting plasma and 2-hour glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and lipid profile, and anthropometric parameters, such as body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were measured.ResultsThe mean values of fasting glucagon level in Group A, Group B, and Group C were 39.24±4.5, 44.5±8.25, and 49.02±9.15 pg/ml, respectively. Statistically significant difference was not found in fasting glucagon level among these groups (p-value 0.614). Fasting glucagon was positively and independently correlated with 2-hour plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, BMI, hip and waist circumference, and hip-to-waist ratio in Group C. In Group B, fasting glucagon was positively correlated with 2-hour plasma glucose, BMI, and hip circumference, while it was not correlated with fasting plasma glucose in both groups. In Group A, fasting glucagon found positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and hip circumference.ConclusionOur observation suggests that fasting plasma glucose is not concomitant with glucagon levels; however, glucagon suppression, after glucose intake, was dysregulated in type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance. Moreover, glucagon is associated with central obesity in type 2 diabetic patients..
Highlights
The primary cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency; many subjects exhibit inappropriate levels of circulating glucagon [1]
In Group B, fasting glucagon was positively correlated with 2-hour plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), and hip circumference, while it was not correlated with fasting plasma glucose in both groups
Our observation suggests that fasting plasma glucose is not concomitant with glucagon levels; glucagon suppression, after glucose intake, was dysregulated in type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance
Summary
The primary cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency; many subjects exhibit inappropriate levels of circulating glucagon [1]. Important evidence for this was the demonstration that subjects with T2DM had higher baseline glucagon levels than subjects without diabetes, and these levels were not suppressed by a carbohydrate meal, as was the case in subjects without diabetes [2]. Regulation of glucagon secretion is impaired in subjects with T2DM who have elevated plasma glucagon concentrations in the fasting state and defective postprandial glucagon suppression that results in undesirably high plasma glucagon concentrations in the context of hyperglycemia [4].
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