Glucagon response to hypoglycemia in diabetic neuropathy.
Glucagon release during insulin hypoglycemia was studied in diabetics with autonomic neuropathy (N = 9), diabetics without clinical neuropathy (N =8), and normals (N = 9). With similar hypoglycemic stimulus, growth hormone and plasma cortisol increased in all groups. Plasma glucagon increased threefold in normals (121 +/- 19 vs. 308 +/- 30 pg/ml., mean +/- SEM of baseline vs. hypoglycemic peak) and twofold in nonneuropathic diabetics (128 +/- 13 vs. 209 +/- 30). There was no glucagon rise during hypoglycemia in the neuropathic diabetics (128 +/- 23 vs. 115 +/- 20). Arginine infusion produced glucagon rise in the neuropathic diabetics (106 +/- 16 vs. 523 +/- 103). The study suggests that failure to release glucagon during hypoglycemia is due to diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy may contribute to metabolic instability.
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D013006:Growth Hormone; D005934:Glucagon; D001120:Arginine; D006854:Hydrocortisone