MON-159 Increased Gluconeogenesis and Lower Glycogenolysis in Patients with Non-Selective Compared Selective Insulin Resistance

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by increased hepatic glucose production and selective insulin resistance that occurs downstream of the insulin receptor. However, the differential pathways and exact molecules implicated in selective insulin signaling are unclear. To elucidate the hepatic mechanistic pathways affected by selective versus non-selective insulin resistance, we compared basal rates of hepatic glucose production and its components, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, in patients with severe non-selective insulin resistance (insulin receptor mutations (INSR)) to patients with selective insulin resistance (lipodystrophy and type 2 diabetes). In 7 patients with INSR, 14 with lipodystrophy and 9 with type 2 diabetes, we measured rates of hepatic glucose production (via [6,6-2H2] glucose) and fractional gluconeogenesis (via 2H2O) after an overnight fast. Absolute rates of gluconeogenesis were calculated as the product of fractional gluconeogenesis and hepatic glucose production, and glycogenolysis were calculated as hepatic glucose production minus gluconeogenesis. In patients with INSR, lipodystrophy and type 2 diabetes, HbA1c (8.2 ± 2.8, 8.4 ± 1.9, 7.4 ± 0.9%) and fasting glucose (120 ± 70, 159 ± 55, 127 ± 32 mg/dl) were comparable (P>0.05). Fasting serum insulin was higher in INSR vs. lipodystrophy and type 2 diabetes (332 ± 355, 48 ± 50, 50 ± 16 μU/ml; P<0.01). Patients with INSR and lipodystrophy had higher hepatic glucose production vs. type 2 diabetes (24.0 ± 4.0, 24.1 ± 6.2, 15.8 ± 4.3 µmol/kgLEAN/min; P<0.01). Fractional gluconeogenesis was higher in INSR vs. lipodystrophy and type 2 diabetes (77.1 ± 9.4, 55.4 ± 11.5, 59.1 ± 5.9%; P<0.01). Absolute gluconeogenesis was highest in INSR, intermediate in lipodystrophy, and lowest in type 2 diabetes (19.1 ± 4.4, 13.5 ± 4.2, 9.5 ± 1.9 µmol/kgLEAN/min; P<0.01). Glycogenolysis was lowest in INSR, highest in lipodystrophy, and intermediate in type 2 diabetes (4.9 ± 2.2 vs. 10.6 ± 4.8, 6.3 ± 2.6 µmol/kgLEAN/min; P<0.01). Higher hepatic glucose production in lipodystrophy vs. type 2 diabetes is consistent with higher hepatic insulin resistance in patients with lipodystrophy, but comparable fractional rates of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis confirm similar mechanisms of selective post-receptor insulin resistance. By contrast, the markedly higher contribution of gluconeogenesis to hepatic glucose production in INSR may reflect complete loss of insulin signaling for glycogen accumulation and/or suppression of gluconeogenesis. Further studies should evaluate whether greater substrate and fuel availability for gluconeogenesis, and/or lower hepatic glycogen stores are important determinants of the components of glucose production in patients with non-selective insulin resistance due to INSR mutation.