title: beta-cell function in children with diabetes.
abstract: Although it is generally believed that insulin secretion is minimal or absent in juvenile-onset diabetes, we have found appreciable levels of C-peptide at the time of onset in 12 patients, 4 to 16 years old (9.3 +/- 4.2). Ten of them had ketonuria but none severe ketoacidosis. All entered a remission period. Most of the patients had near normal C-peptide levels during the remission, and their beta cells had the capacity to respond to a breakfast stimulation with increased insulin secretion. C-peptide and proinsulin were also determined in 98 juvenile diabetics with age at onset of 1 to 16 years (6.8 +/- 3.9) and a duration of diabetes between two and 17 years (6.7 +/- 3.4). Many were found to have persisting beta-cell function, which seems to be of importance for ensuring stability in metabolic control. Although little is known about factors that may slow or reverse the process leading to beta-cell failure, our results suggest that early detection and intensive treatment of diabetes before severe metabolic disturbances have occurred may help preserve beta-cell function.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000652:urine; D007700:Kinetics
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D007657:Ketone Bodies